Ann Couturier

Ann Couturier, 61, passed away Wednesday, November 10 while in hospice care as siblings and extended family offered loving, prayerful support. A stubborn fighter, she finally was forced to yield. Annie was born a dwarf (a condition called achondroplasia), but as one of nine children was not offered much in the way of special treatment as a child. She was subject to the same household chores and rules as her siblings. She rode a bus to elementary school well before adaptive lifts came into use. While attending Notre Dame Academy (a family tradition), Ann’s parents saw that she got her driver’s license at the age of 16 just like her siblings, though she had to use leg controls to operate the car. Being “different” as a teen is always difficult, even though Ann had a winning personality. One particular Halloween she was lamenting that no matter what costume she wore everyone would know immediately who she was because of her height. Her Dad fixed that by painting a refrigerator box fixed on a wheeled frame. He added tubular arms, various gauges, and a camouflaged view port. Ann returned from the party elated. No one could guess who the robot was! While in college, Ann joined Little People of America, networking at their conferences and making more friends. She served as vice president of the local chapter of LPA from 1999-2001. After graduating from the University of Toledo with a degree in business management in 1980, she joined Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Transitioning with that company as it became Medical Mutual, Ann eventually earned her post as a customer account representative, exiting after 35 years of service. She also worked part-time in customer service at the Target store on Monroe Street for 20 years, where she felt it her duty to mentor the younger staff. Ann was very involved in her parish church, St. Pius X, serving on its board of St. Vincent de Paul. Ann’s short stature caused major stress to her spine, eventually requiring spinal surgery. Over time, walking became so difficult that Ann needed a mobility cart to maintain her independence. Since she worked with the public in both her jobs, she attracted attention. Toddlers especially were fascinated by both her and her cart. They could ask her some frank questions. Ann always assured their sometimes-embarrassed parents that she was happy to answer them. She said they hadn’t done anything wrong. They just wanted to know. Ann loved babies and little kids, and they loved her back—especially if it meant they got to ride on her cart with her. Since she did little cooking for herself, Ann was well-known at many restaurants. (For family events, however, she insisted on contributing a dish.) She was so outgoing she made many friends, and frankly, she liked to flirt with the waiters. Ann loved a party, and whether she was in a mobility cart or even in a wheelchair, she welcomed the opportunity to get on the dance floor. If you were out with Ann, you could expect to get stopped at least once by a friend, someone from church, or just someone who recognized her from work. Her surviving siblings are Mary (Don) Smith, Ginny (Rick) Slawinski, Madonna (Philip) Nessle, Joseph (Shirley) Couturier, Michael (Brenda) Couturier, Michelle (Greg) Burkhart of Toledo, and Eileen (John) Evola. She is also survived by 24 nieces and nephews and 39 great-nieces and -nephews. This was especially important to Ann because, since she had no children of her own, she claimed all those as hers. Ann was predeceased by her parents, Al and Eileen, brother Mark, and Mark’s daughters Cheree and Chivaun. Friends will be received at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Avenue Toledo on Friday, November 19, 2021 from 2-8 pm where a scripture service will be held at 7:30 pm.. Visitation will continue on Saturday, November 20 at St Pius X Catholic Church, 3011 Carskaddon Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43606 after 12:30 pm with funeral mass to follow at 1 pm. Interment will be private. As a courtesy to the family, masks are requested for visitation and services. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations may be made to The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, 5605 Monroe St., Sylvania OH 43560 or the Sorrowful Mother Shrine, 4106 OH-269, Bellevue OH 44811 or St. Pius X Church.