Ann Elizabeth Wright

Ann Elizabeth Wright, 89, died Thursday, Dec. 30, in Durham, following a lengthy illness. 

 One-of-a-kind, Ann was born Oct. 15, 1932, to Thomas Charles Feeney and Florence Fischer Feeney. She was raised in Olney, Penn., and graduated from West Chester University with a degree in elementary education. 

 Extremely competitive by nature, Ann always tried to win, even if it meant trying to cheat at Candy Land or strategically positioning herself near reflective surfaces. Her biggest win though came in college when she successfully wooed her future husband, Donald L. Wright, away from a romantic rival. The two were largely inseparable during their 65 years of marriage, and Donald was a constant, comforting presence during Ann’s final days.  

 Known for her quick wit and sense of humor, Ann enjoyed a good joke and laugh. On her Honeymoon, she rented a tandem bike. When Donald stopped to complain how hard it had been to ride up a steep hill, he found her with her legs propped up on the handlebars. 

 She loved traveling the globe and particularly enjoyed exploring the United States by car. On all her adventures, Ann was always on the lookout for random lumps of coal for her son-in-law’s Christmas stocking and new hotel soaps to add to an already impressive collection. 

 Few things though made Ann happier than the summers she spent at her vacation home in Pocono woods, working as a teacher’s aide at Linden Elementary School in Doylestown and playing tennis. She loved spending time with her family, friends and sorority sisters, and enjoyed organized biennial family reunions. 

 A voracious lover of sweets, Ann always had a candy jar full of sweets for visitors and spent hours baking desserts and Whoopie pies. She made gingerbread houses each Christmas for her five grandchildren.  

 Wright was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Edward J. Feeney. 

 She is survived by her husband; brother, Thomas C. Feeney; her sister-in-law, Darlene Feeney; daughters, Patricia (Mark) Stecklein, Susan Wright, and Janet (Bart) Houck; grandchildren, Janelle (Derrick) Nelson, Paul (Jamie) Stecklein, Eric (Sarah) Stecklein, Shannon Houck, and Ryan Houck; and two great-grandchildren, Elora and Isaac Nelson. 

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 8 at Croasdaile Chapel, 2600 Croasdaile Farm Parkway in Durham. 

Ann’s family would like to express its appreciation for the care provided by the staff at Croasdaile Farm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Croasdaile Employee Appreciation Gift Fund at 2600 Croasdaile Farm Parkway, Durham, NC 27705.