Welcome to the Celebration of Life page, which has evolved to truly celebrate Ann’s life. The celebration took place on September 22nd at 2 p.m in Bend as well as Walla Walla.
The family needs your help. Ann touched so many people they would like to celebrate as a community. If you knew Ann and would like to share a memory in writing, the family has made a form available to do just that. The family would also love to have videos or photos of Ann and have included a link on that form to upload those as well. Feel free to email annhandcelebration@handinhandproductions.com if you have any questions.
Graveside Service:
Celebration of Life from Bend and Walla Walla:
Ann Louise Wood Hand
June 29, 1947 – August 27, 2024
Ann Hand was a marvel at teaching music. She was inspiring, encouraging, and persuasive, especially with music and young children. She could turn a simple tune into an irresistible game by clapping, skipping, singing, and laughing. Before her students had a chance to think music was out of their reach or interest, they were being successful. The reluctant student from the back of the room, with crossed arms and pouting face, was handed the drum and often ended up leading the march. Ann taught rhythm, pitch, and timing, but mostly, she taught courage to try, accepting mistakes and enjoyment of success.
“Mrs. Hand” taught elementary music in the Bend, Oregon schools, mostly at Buckingham, for 28 years. She was all about involving each child in creating and performing music. Her step-by-step music skills started and developed quickly. Soon, students played for each other and taught their own unique “songs.” The classroom was filled with marimbas, bells, and drums. Most noon recesses were filled with students looking for a place to belong, to explore. Ann’s unique skills and countless hours of teaching led many of her students to life-long musical enjoyment and successful music career.
Ann was involved in the United Methodist Church her entire life–in Burbank, California where she was born, and then in Bend, Oregon, and later, Walla Walla, Washington. Her dad’s devotion to paying for her piano lessons enabled her to accompany Sunday school classes, choirs, and congregational gatherings from her early years into adulthood. If her dad was in the room while she was playing, you often heard his voice from the audience, “I paid for those lessons.”
The Church in Bend was especially blessed with Ann’s musical talents. She organized and led the praise band at the Bend Methodist Church in Bend for several years and played with the praise band at the Walla Walla Methodist Church after she moved there in 2018.
In all of these activities, Ann’s sense of humor and enjoyment of others shined through the sparkle in her eyes and her warm smile. She lived the last two years of her life at Regency at the Park, and even with her gradual decline in memory and mobility, her spirit lifted others and improved lives.
Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Flora Ann Wood, and sisters, Ruth Bradley and Carol Wood.
She is survived by her wife, Ellen Glenn, of Walla Walla; sons Matt Hand of Bend, OR, and Paul Hand (Airelle) of Abilene, TX; sister Mary Wood of Portland, OR; and former husband Tim Hand (Sue) of Redmond, OR.