Bennett, Ann, December 19, 2018, English at Waltham High School

Ann Philomena Bennett, of Woburn passed away peacefully December 19, 2018, at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 81. Ann is lovingly survived by her loving husband, Dr. Robert F. Bennett, together they shared over fifty years of marriage. 

Ann was born on December 5, 1937, in Acushnet, MA to the late Vito Nicola and Rose (Travaglino) Orofino. She graduated from New Bedford High School. Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts in 1959. She taught English for 3 years at the Normandin Junior High School in New Bedford. When she moved to the Boston area, she taught English at Waltham High School for 36 years until her retirement in 1998. Throughout her career, Ann was a dedicated, caring and thoughtful educator. She was passionate about empowering students, friends and family to explore their personal academic career goals to achieve their full potentials in life.

When Ann graduated from college, she and friends camped cross country sleeping in a tent. She enjoyed her travels to Europe as well as her numerous cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii. She fondly remembers her vacations to Banff and Jasper, Alberta. Ann particularly enjoyed her excursions to Toronto and the Canadian National Exhibition and Alaska land trips.

Most recently, Ann shared a RV with her husband where they visited many sites such as; Washington, D.C., Arcadia National Park, Grand Ole Opry, Nashville Symphony, Ashville, N.C. Symphony, Smokey Mountains, Canadian Maritimes and Prince Edward Island, Yellowstone National Park, Glazier National Park and many more places along the way. Ann was a loyal and dependable friend whose relationships spanned many decades. Ann will be profoundly missed. Her oversized heart and her passion and commitment to all that was true and dear to her has left our lives fortified, enriched and our world a bit more positive and real. 

"Bad memories can ruin a life, but beautiful memories enrich and cast their livingness on the living" -- Jaye Rudolf. 

In addition to her beloved husband, Ann is survived by her In-laws; Patricia Bennett Heenan and her husband Edward of Windham, NH, William J. Bennett and his wife Barbara of Melrose. She is also survived by five loving nieces and nephews; Paul Heenan and his wife Tricia of Brockton, Dennis Heenan and his wife Erin of Salem, Susan Breen and her husband David of Derry, NH, Karen Kennedy and her partner Mike Bosely of Orleans, Marc Bennett and his wife Rachelle of Woburn. Cousins Patricia Tomkiewicz and her husband Fred of Carver, Rosemarie Silva of Wareham, Dennis Brienzo and his wife Lee of Lakeville and many great nieces and nephews.

It has been requested that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Ann's memory to the VNA of Middlesex-East, Sawtelle Family Hospice House, 607 North Ave, Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880.