Ann Ahearn

Her smile lit up a room, her passion for equity challenged schools to improve, her love for her children nourished their lives, and her partnership with Jim gave them both strength. Upon her diagnosis of neuroendocrine cancer, Ann Ahearn’s openness and candor about her journey with the disease brought wide circles of family and friends into that heartrending experience.

At the age of 42, Ann’s spirit left her body on March 10, 2020, but that spirit lives on in her children, Kamu, 11, and Malia, 7; in her husband, Jim; in her parents, Jeanne and Phil Stefonik; in her brother, Ben Stefonik; in her extended family, and among her many, many friends.

Ann started this life on Sept. 29, 1977 in Marshfield, WI. When she went to college at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, she majored in Human Resource Management, earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2000.

Along the way, she met and fell in love with Jim. They were married on June 24, 2006 at Lake Edge United Church of Christ in Madison. Later, they became active members at Lake Edge Lutheran Church.

In her professional career working in human resources at Non-Metallic Components and UW-Madison, she was focused on ways she could provide people with support in their workplaces.  But she said that, “My favorite and most important job has been staying home and raising the kids.”

In 2009, she and Jim travelled to Ethiopia for the adoption of their son, Kamu, and in 2012 to Atlanta, GA for the adoption of their daughter, Malia.  With the additions of their beloved children, their lives entered amazing new chapters. They learned how to combine the culture of Ethiopia and the realities of life for African Americans with their own experiences as white parents. As Ann said, “Our lives would never be this rich if we had not decided to build our family through transracial adoption.”

With Omicka Clay, Ann co-founded the Forever Friends Club in Cottage Grove in 2015 to bring together elementary students and families to promote an inclusive and engaged community. At this time, she worked with the coach of the Madison Elite Track Club, Venus Washington, to create an inclusive space for young athletes from diverse backgrounds to participate in track and field.

In 2018, Ann was a founding member and driving force behind the creation of the Parent Equity Council of the Monona Grove School District.  The council is actively working to enable parents to improve the experience of students and families of color in the district by offering support, feedback, and ideas.

In addition to Jim, Kamu, Malia, Ann’s parents, and her brother and his husband, Will Dice, she is survived by Jim’s parents, James and Ann Ahearn, and Jim’s brother, Brian and his wife, Megan Bailey, as well as many other relatives.

The ripples from Ann’s life will continue to spread outward after her death. She has designated two causes where financial contributions can be made to widen her impact.

One is the newly founded Ann Ahearn Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship, for Monona Grove students of color pursuing post-secondary education. Donations can be made at the Monona Grove Education Foundation website - https://www.mononagrove.org/welcome/mgefdonationform.cfm - or mailed to the Monona Grove Education Foundation, 5301 Monona Drive, Monona, WI 53716, specifying that it goes to this scholarship.

The second is for research on the kind of cancer that took Ann’s life. Dr. Dusty Deming and his team, at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, have been vital companions who offered compassionate care and Ann would like to support his research. Checks can be made payable to the University of Wisconsin Foundation with a memo for the Deming Lab and sent to UW Foundation., US Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee WI 53278-0807.

Ann and the Ahearn family would like to express their gratitude to Agrace Hospice Care for their kind, compassionate, and competent end of life care.

A Celebration of Ann’s life previously announced is being postponed and will be held at a later date.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3325 E. Washington Ave.

Madison (608) 249-6666