Ann (Shuford) Cioppa

Ann (Shuford) Cioppa (b. April 8, 1942 in Hickory, North Carolina) passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 6, 2022 at the West End Villa, Ottawa, Ontario.  Former wife and friend of Frank, loving mother of Lynne, Maria (Scott), Lee (Jason), Dominique, David, Siobhan (Trevor) and Josel, adoring grandmother of Antonia, Max, Willow, Lily and Francesca.

Over her lifetime, Ann crisscrossed North America - from North Carolina to British Columbia, from Texas to Alaska. Wherever she went, she built community - from moving her family to rural BC in search of that community, to playing music in her church, to being a founder of the Better Living Housing Cooperative, to being ordained as a Minister and serving as a chaplain in Cornwall, Ontario, to starting a library at West End Villa.  She was an avid musician and loved books, crafts, dragons, dolls, giving goats for Christmas, but more than anything, she loved her family and her family loved her.

“She taught us how to love deeply, how to fight fiercely, how to stand up for ourselves, how to be honest, how to be a good neighbour, and how to build community. She made friends of every stranger, and showed us that life gives us the grace of being as many versions of ourselves as it takes to get it right.” Willow Cioppa (2022)

A private memorial service is planned. Given Ann's focus on her communities, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ann's name toward the restoration of the Better Living Housing Cooperative, which recently suffered a devastating fire. Alternatively, donations can be made to West End Villa Residents Council, where she spent her last years being a strong advocate for those living in long term care.

“Ann Cioppa, mother of dragons, keeper of the dollhouse of Aoibheann, sacred watchwoman of the forests of Dryadalis. She was born a unicorn, lived as a dragon, and now has returned to her home beyond the sea.” Josel Cioppa (2022)