Ann P. Ross

With great sorrow the family of Ann Kimball Penney Ross, 94, of Kingston, RI announce her passing on 1/11/2025. Ann was predeceased by her husband James Barrett Ross Jr in 2020, their son Scott Ross in 2024, and an infant daughter in 1964. She leaves behind ten of her 12 children: James Ross, Alison Hunt, Andrea Ames, Alan Ross, Dana Kenney, Betsy Zink, Randy Ross, Mary Ellen Ross, Marjorie Vorhaben and Wendy Schultz. Ann remains forever the beloved grandmother to 31 and great grandmother to 27, and a source of love and light and kindness to all who knew her. Though we will greatly miss her, we rejoice in her memory.

Ann was born on April 2, 1930 to Mary Ellen Kimball and Julian Penney in Elmira, NY. In her youth she enjoyed summers on Keuka Lake with her parents, grandparents and younger brother Robert Penney (deceased). Ann attended Mary Washington College and Cornell University before marrying James (Jim) in 1950. Ann and Jim’s family grew beginning with the birth of their first child in 1951 and they became engaged participants and well regarded members of every community they joined thereafter. Wherever they lived, Ann quickly made each house their family’s home.

Ann was an extraordinary mother by any measure. Whether making Halloween costumes, birthday cakes, serving as class parent, preparing dinner every night for a family of 13 or attending school concerts and sporting events, she made each of her many children feel special and loved. During her long and industrious life Ann also volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, delivered for Meals on Wheels, and was a visitor for hospice. She found a way to serve others at every turn. Amazingly Ann also managed to find time over the years to curate many hobbies for herself including art, knitting, tennis, gardening, fishing, bowling, photography- even developing her own film, and printing her own photos. She was quite an accomplished photographer owing to her keen eye for beauty and composition. At the age of 50, Ann decided to finish her coursework to complete her college degree in sociology, which in turn renewed her love of anthropology and archaeology and led her to travel the world. She was able to visit Jordan, China, Peru, Mexico and even Easter Island in pursuit of knowledge, people and experiences. She was truly an interesting and interested human being.

Ann and Jim together participated in each church in every community they joined- most recently Kingston Congregational Church beginning in 1986-and enjoyed singing in the choir together and serving on various committees. Ann and Jim hosted many guests during their time as owners of Hedgerow Bed and Breakfast in Kingston, and several of their children’s weddings took place on the beautiful grounds Ann tended. She was also a member of the Every Tuesday Club, and contributor to Fayerweather House craft guild. Ann will be remembered as a beautiful, thoughtful, funny, generous and loving woman by all who knew her.

If you would like to honor Ann, follow her examples: Show compassion. Offer a kind word. Welcome a new neighbor. Pursue your interests with passion and share them with others. And most importantly - eat ice cream often.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 18th at Kingston Congregational Church, 2610 Kingstown Rd, Kingston, RI 02881 at 12 pm with a reception to follow in their hall.  Donations to Hope Health Hospice appreciated.