Ardeth Ann Abke On January 14th, 2020 our mom, Ardeth Ann Abke (Ann) died peacefully and surrounded by family after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Mom was born in Grand Rapids, MI where she attended Mount Mercy Academy. She then attended St. Mary's School of Nursing in Saginaw, MI where she was asked out by our dad on a bet that his friend made with him. The two married and returned to Grand Rapids where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Aquinas College and had an accomplished career spanning 15 years as a practicing Registered Nurse and another 30 years as a Risk Management Administrator. Dad affectionately called my mom "Pooky" and his "Lithuanian Princess." The couple raised their two children in Grand Rapids where they enjoyed attending Michigan State football games, canoeing down the Muskegon River, enjoying Sunday picnics at Gunn Lake and ice skating at Richmond Pond, When Dad retired, he and mom embarked on their dream of retirement life in Phoenix. There, Mom retired from Dignity Health Services and focused solely on her philanthropic interests including volunteer work with the City of Goodyear Fire Department, the Volunteer Board of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, local PGA/LPGA Golf Tournaments and the Pebble Creek Kare Bear Office. A devout Catholic, Mom was also a eucharistic minister and member of the choir of St. John Vianney Parish in Goodyear in addition to her active participation in various Pebble Creek activities including Pickleball and Showtime. Her passion was singing and she so loved the camaraderie of her time with her fellow Pebble Creek Singers! Mom is preceded by our dad and her husband of 48 years, Robert B. Abke and her grandson, Anthony James Penna. She is survived by her son, James Paul Abke, his wife Pamela and their children Austin, Bailee and Allyson of Commerce City, CO and her daughter Melanie Abke Penna and her husband Robert and their daughter Gabrielle of Wilmington, DE. Mom's final days were beautiful. Deeply faithful, she was at peace and looked forward to seeing our dad again, playing pickleball and enjoying Twizzlers in heaven. The hospice community was amazing! In lieu of flowers, we request donations made in memory of Ann at the Phoenix Rescue Mission, 1801 S. 35th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009. A public funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 am on Friday, February 14th at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, located at 539 La Pasada Blvd, Goodyear, AZ 85338. Interment of Mom at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona will take place immediately following the funeral Mass and will be limited to immediate family only. Family and friends are welcome to gather in the Chianti Room of the Pebble Creek Tuscany Falls Clubhouse from 9 am - 11 am on Saturday, February 15th for light refreshments in celebration of Mom's life. The Clubhouse is located at 16222 Clubhouse Drive, Goodyear, AZ 85395.