Ann DeCoster

Ann Marie Maher was born in Dublin Ireland, September 3, 1942. She came to the US as an au pair (governess) at the age of 20, to a small town in Massachusetts. She met and then married Paul DeCoster in 1964. They had their first son, William “Liam” DeCoster in 1965, followed by a daughter, Mary (DeCoster) Shirley in 1966 and their youngest son, Sean DeCoster in 1971. They moved throughout New England and called Concord, Massachusetts, Putney, VT, Pawling, NY and Squantz Pond, Connecticut home and even moved to Dublin, Ireland for a year, all before settling in Orlando, FL in 1976. Ann took great pride in decorating her homes, so all felt welcomed and invited. Ann was an avid gardener, she loved to sew, crochet and knit. What she cherished most of all was doting on her loving husband Paul, her 3 children and their spouses and her 6 grandchildren. She loved spending time with family. Whether it was simply watching TV or dinner and a movie, a trip to the beach or extended cruises, being with family was her happy place. And Ann loved to shop! She made it her job to pick up special things throughout the year to make the most elaborate Christmas Day and the most special birthdays for all her loved ones. She would send off packages to her siblings and their growing families in Ireland, relatives in Vermont and Maine and of course all her children and grandchildren. Ann loved to bake. She made scones and Irish soda bread, apple, and pumpkin pies… all from scratch. She would cook for a week preparing for each holiday’s feast. She cooked and baked her love into all she created that, indeed, was clear. When Paul retired from Lockheed Martin in 2002, they spent quality time together traveling, going to many special places and one of her favorites, “high tea”, in Mount Dora. They summered in Maine, helping to restore and renovate the family farmhouse. From installing windows to floors and eventually a wood burning stove, Ann poured her heart and soul into all she did, side by side with her loving husband, Paul. Ann struggled with complications from COPD for many years, dating back to 2014, when heart troubles began to be more serious. In 2021 it was necessary for her to have quadruple bypass surgery and then a pacemaker, that same year. And so began the slippery slope of heart, blood pressure and kidney problems. Ann DeCoster died January 4, 2025, peacefully, with her family by her side. She is preceded in death by her parents William and Mary Maher, her brothers William Maher and Maurice Maher, sisters Catherine Murray and Rose Jackson and her son William “Liam” DeCoster. She is survived by her husband Paul DeCoster, daughter Mary Shirley (Dean), son Sean DeCoster (Cindy), grandchildren Kristen DeCoster, Stephanie Cross (Kyle ), Mariah Shirley, Troy Shirley, SeanPaul DeCoster and Riley DeCoster and her brother Vincent Maher and sister Marian Reynolds and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held at Osceola Memory Gardens in St. Cloud, FL on February 1, 2025 at 3pm.

Ann DeCoster

September 3, 1942 - January 4, 2025