ANNE B. STINSON

Dr. Anne Bushnell Stinson was born in Santa Monica, California on September 12, 1937 to Mart and Jean Bushnell, the first of 10 children. Education and family were paramount for Anne and she sacrificed for both throughout her life. After graduating from South San Francisco High School, Anne's parents told her that she could not go to college so she could work to support her large family. Rather than accept that, Anne moved out and enrolled in college, working multiple jobs so she could support herself while continuing to send money home so her sisters could attend Catholic school. Anne pursued education for herself and her children throughout her lifetime, ultimately earning a Bachelor's degree in Education, a Teacher's certificate, a Masters in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University and a Doctorate in Philosophy in the fields of Gerontology, Thanatology and Funeral Service Education from The Union Institute.  Over the years Anne also owned a night club, a women's boutique shop and sold insurance. Anne's final job was teaching reading to elementary school students in Detroit's inner city.

Anne married Ron Stedman in 1958 and gave birth to her daughter, Veronica, in 1960. Anne and Ron moved to Michigan from California and later divorced. Anne then met her husband, James "Sonny" Stinson, and gave birth to Sulee in 1970. Anne and Sonny remained married for 46 years until his death in 2013 and while together Anne helped Sonny operate Stinson Funeral Homes in Detroit. During this time, she founded the nonprofit Widow-to-Widow, a bereavement program that served over 1,000 widows. Anne also served as the Educational Commissioner for the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and was the owner and managing editor of the National Funeral Director and Embalmer magazine.

Anne pursued many interests throughout her lifetime. First and foremost, she loved to read. She also taught swimming and canoeing, inspired by her father and the family's time at Boy Scout Camp. Anne loved the outdoors and was an avid snow and water skier. Anne was also a genealogist and oral historian who spent countless hours researching and recording the history of Sonny's family since her own family was already well documented with a book in the Smithsonian going back 17 generations. Anne loved to knit and do crossword puzzles.  She also loved flowers and to garden. Anne and Sonny enjoyed a life of excitement and adventure together. Some would call them jet setters, but most of all they loved people and they loved living.

Anne began to exhibit signs of Alzheimer's in her 60s and by the time of Sonny's death her disease had progressed such that she was unable to live on her own. She went to live in Colorado with her daughter, Veronica, son-in-law, Jay and grandson, Erik. After a year, Anne went to live in a specialized memory care facility where she remained until her peaceful death on June 21, 2019 at the age of 82. Her caregiving tendencies continued even as her illness progress, as she thought it was her job to care for the other residents in the facility. Despite losing nearly all of her abilities, Anne continued to respond to music and her children until the very end.

Anne leaves to mourn her daughters, Veronica and Sulee, son, James "Kip" Jr., grandchildren, Erik, Evan, Monica, Grant, Mitchell, Jay and Morgan, and the newest members of the family, great grandson, Liam and great granddaughter Bella, who Anne didn't have a chance to meet. Anne also leaves behind her brothers and sisters, Marty, Mary, Beau, Chris, Brian, Alan, Patrick, Mike and their spouses, children and grandchildren. Anne was predeceased by only a few weeks by her dear sister, Dorothy Bushnell.