It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mom Ann Jane Poitras (nee Devlin) on January 5 at the age of 98. Ann will be forever remembered by sons Ron (Linda), Michael (Marlene), Bernie (Sarah), and daughter Betty Ann, her grandchildren, Rachelle, Andre, Yves, Anne-Marie, Evan, Marc, Gabriel, Stevenson, Karla, her sister-in-law Therese Devlin and her nieces and nephews. She will also be remembered by special childhood friend Laura Collins.
We take comfort in knowing that Ann will be reunited with family members who have left before her including her husband, Marcel Bernard (Ben) Poitras, an infant son, Bernard Dennis, her parents Patrick “The Pop” and Margaret (Barrett) Devlin, sisters Josephine (Josie) McGonigal, Nellie Thibodeau and brothers Anthony (Tony) Devlin, Joseph (Joe) Devlin and Arthur (Art) Devlin. She was also predeceased by her son-in law, Mike Kossovan and daughter-in-law, Marlene Lidkea.
Ann was born on October 1, 1923 in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. On April 10, 1926, the Devlin family immigrated to Canada sailing across the North Atlantic on the SS Metagama arriving in St. John New Brunswick on April 19, 1926. Like most immigrants to Canada who were promised farmland, the Devlin family eventually settled in Lafond, Alberta, a farming community northeast of Edmonton. After high school, Ann obtained her teaching certificate from the Edmonton Normal School and began teaching in the 1940s. She married Marcel Bernard Poitras on April 22, 1948 in Vancouver, BC. They moved between British Columbia and Alberta to pursue teaching positions, settling in St. Paul, Alberta, in 1956 to raise their family. Arriving in Edmonton in 1968 with her family, Ann worked as an elementary school teacher with Edmonton Catholic Schools teaching Grades 1 and 2 at Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Monica Elementary until her retirement in 1985.
Ann enjoyed gardening, reading, baking for her children and travelling the world. As a devout Roman Catholic, she was active in her church parish activities including the Catholic Women’s League and supported numerous Catholic charities. During her summers and in her retirement, she travelled to California with her husband Ben and to her native Northern Ireland to visit relatives. Ann enjoyed visiting her brothers and sisters in Edson and St. Paul and was always up for a wee cup of tea. She also enjoyed going for coffee with her friends, visiting flea markets to find good bargains and making her famous cinnamon buns on Saturday mornings.
In her final years, Ann was a resident of St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital – Long Term Care. The Poitras family extends their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all staff at St. Joseph’s Auxiliary in caring for our dear mom.
A funeral mass will take place at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on January 22, 2022 at 11 a.m. by invitation only, due to COVID-19 capacity restrictions. The service will be followed by an interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ann’s name to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Lacombe Canada in Saskatoon, SK.
