Ann D. Chidwick
CHIDWICK, Ann Dickson – Peacefully, surrounded by her family, Ann Dickson Chidwick died of old age after a long and full life. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul Field Chidwick (2007). She is survived by her children Mark (Heather), Paula (Kevin), Lynn (Terry), and Valary (Dan); her grandchildren Robert, Amanda, Gaby, Phillip, Hanna, Andrew, Ijeoma, Owen, Maeve, Will, and Evan; and her great-grandchildren Veer and Sadie. She was also “Auntie Ann” to many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews, all of whom loved her dearly as she loved them.
Ann’s life was one of adventure, courage, and deep faith. With Paul at her side, she lived abroad, raised four children in Nairobi in the 1960s, and later made homes in England and back in Canada, gathering wisdom, stories, and many friendships along the way. In Ontario, she brought this rich experience to St. Mary’s parish in Windsor, where she helped establish family life education and marriage preparation programs for the Diocese of Huron.
A gifted storyteller, Ann was the published author of nine books tracing her own family’s history and giving voice to the historical stories of Sorrento and Blind Bay, BC. She approached storytelling, as she did life, with curiosity, respect, and a desire to understand. A devoted Anglican throughout her life, Ann most recently worshipped at The Church of the Apostles in Guelph, where she started “Living Better on Less,” a program rooted in her conviction that living simply and in harmony with the environment and with one another truly matters.
Ann’s family and friends will remember her unshakable joy for life and her instinct to seize every moment. Everything, in her eyes, was interesting and possible. She never stopped asking questions, and she never pretended to have all the answers, always learning, adapting, and growing. The Shuswap Lake was her favourite place on earth, where she spent countless happy hours with her grandchildren—at tea times, swimming, and playing—laying down lifelong memories. To her grandchildren, “Noni” was the embodiment of wonder and elegance, the grandmother who thought nothing of exploring boar trails in rural Portugal with a gleeful grandchild in tow.
Above all, Ann will be remembered for her abiding love and respect for people. She welcomed everyone into her home, and at any moment she might arrive with an unexpected guest—or several—knowing they would be received into the warmth of a shared meal and conversation. From raising worms on her kitchen counter as part of her commitment to the earth, to launching community projects that brought neighbours together, Ann quietly modelled a generous, inclusive humanity. She was, to all who knew her, an inspiration: gracious, fearless, endlessly interested, and deeply kind.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 11:00am at The Church of the Apostles, 86 Glasgow St. N., Guelph.
Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to The Church of the Apostles-Living Better on Less would be appreciated.
A tree will be planted in memory of Ann D. Chidwick in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.