Ann Marie Trunnelle

Ann Marie Conces Trunnelle was the adventurous sort who rarely shied away from quests of self-improvement and thrifty pursuits. She was resourceful and self-reliant. She reveled in sharing exploits of purchasing items on sale, and of encouraging others in their own efforts of clever tinkering.

Ann was born June 25, 1934, in Pasadena, Texas, to George and Annie Conces-- the third of four children. At that time the area was rural, and Ann spent lots of time outdoors, sometimes tagging along with her older brothers, and other times wandering solo with only her pet hen, Sick Eye, trailing after her. She amused herself exploring her surroundings atop the family horse, Dolly, picked wild berries, and played Cowboys and Indians with her BB gun in tow. Dolly loomed large in Ann’s childhood memories– Ann loved her– despite the horse’s periodic devilish streak. Dolly would bolt for home, racing wildly along prickly hedges to scrape the rider’s leg, and round the corner to the driveway at breakneck speed attempting to throw Ann. In high school Ann was a three-sport athlete.

After Ann married 1st Lieutenant Charles Trunnelle, USAF, in 1958, the two turned their attention to raising their five children: twins David and Donald (Debbie), of Redlands and Alta Loma, respectively; Gordon (Helen) of Rancho Cucamonga; Susan (Rich) Fudurich of Monaca, Pa.; and Glenn (Devon) of Long Beach. The family moved to Redlands in 1971 following Major Trunnelle’s transfer to Norton AFB.

Academics and religion played integral roles in the family structure. Applying oneself and respecting authority were implicit expectations. Sports was a constant in the Trunnelle household. Ann and Chuck seldom missed a game or contest in which their children were involved. Ann took to logging scorebooks for baseball and basketball, which was a natural extension of her penchant for record-keeping (she labeled her spice jars with the purchase price/date and faithfully documented her gas mileage). She was a remarkable blend of team mom, chauffeur, insightful critic and cheerleader.

Her generosity with her time extended to the PTA, Catholic Daughters and being the captain of neighborhood collections for the American Heart Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Ann’s faith sustained her when Chuck unexpectedly died of a heart attack in 1984. For the next few years, the thought of handling the family finances terrified her and she threw all tax-related mail under her bed. Then, when she was ready, she gradually became financially literate and regained her footing. So, she’d added another skill to a portfolio that included sewing, auto maintenance and use of every tool in the garage.

In addition to 13 grandchildren, Ann kept up with the goings-on of nieces and nephews, remembering birthdays and celebrating achievements. Summer road trips to Texas and Iowa were an opportunity to nourish ties with her siblings and in-laws.

A few months ago, Ann’s health began to decline. She began losing weight and fought off infection. Finally, on December 21, in Loma Linda Hospital, the Lord quietly tip-toed into her room and took her in His arms. Although Ann had a tendency toward tardiness, in the end she was right on time for the winter solstice and ready to welcome Light itself.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made in Ann’s name to the American Heart Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Ann Trunnelle's viewing and rosary will be held at Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel at 703 Brookside Ave, Redlands, CA 92373 on January 31, 2022 from 4 pm-8 pm with the Rosary starting at 6:00 pm. Her funeral Mass will be held at Holy Name of Jesus Church at 115 W Olive Ave, Redlands, CA 92373 on February 1, 2022 at 11:00 am followed by interment at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA 92518, at 1:30 pm.