Ann M. Atwood passed away August 12, 2017 in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 91. She was preceded in passing by her sisters Eve and Helen, and brothers Syd and Joe.

Ann, the daughter of John Boyachek and Mary Poworoznik, was born in Mill Village, Pennsylvania not far from Erie. She grew up through the Great Depression on a farm without electricity, bathroom, central heating or telephone. Her mother died during childbirth when Ann was 10 and she had to assume many family responsibilities, including the cooking of meals and other household duties. As a young adult Ann worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C, and later resided in Erie, Pennsylvania, with her firstborn, Greg, from 1948 to 1958. There she worked for an electronics firm, and later for Allegheny Airlines.

She moved to Bakersfield, California in early 1958 to marry David P. Atwood (deceased). Ann worked for United Airlines, and her airline career allowed her to share the world with her children, including trips to London, Hawaii, New York, D.C., Copenhagen and New Zealand.

Ann and David moved with their children to Portland, Oregon, in late 1968. They lived in the Multnomah Village neighborhood of Southwest Portland until 1975, when Ann and the three youngest moved to Bellevue, Washington. Ann retired from United in 1990 and moved back to Oregon, settling in Lake Oswego. She remained there until a 2012 illness forced the sale of her house and started the slow decline of her health. All four children are living in Oregon.

Ann was a good and resourceful woman who made lemonade when given lemons. Ann’s Catholic faith helped sustain her throughout her life. In Lake Oswego, she was active in of Our Lady of the Lake parish for over twenty years; gifts in her name may be made there (http://www.oll-parish.com/).

A celebration of her life will be held Friday, September 15, 2017 at 11:00 at Our Lady of the Lake, 790 A Avenue, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. Contact(greg.a.williams@comcast.net) for more information.