Ann D. Hessenius

         Ann Marie Ditzel Hessenius, 79, of Purcellville, Virginia, died Monday, October 27, 2014, at her home.

Mrs. Hessenius was born in 1934, in Lake City, Iowa, the daughter of the late Conrad and Pearl Ditzel.  She was a graduate of Lytton High School in Iowa and the University of California, San Jose, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science.  Mrs. Hessenius was a teacher, teaching in public schools and preschools in Des Moines, Iowa, San Jose, California, Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia.  For the last 10 years of teaching she was the Director of the Lynchburg Montessori School, retiring in 1996.

Mrs. Hessenius was a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Purcellville, Virginia, and in Lynchburg.  She was very active in her churches with Bible studies and women’s studies.  Mrs. Hessenius was a master gardener who loved flowers. Mrs. Hessenius volunteered with the local hospice group in Lynchburg and also participated in a church group knitting prayer shawls for people who were ill.  She loved to read all types of books and enjoyed playing with her dog Skippy.

She married Roger William Hessenius on June 23, 1956 in Lytton, Iowa.

Surviving with her husband are two daughters, Kristin Brodowski and husband, Robert, of Purcellville, Virginia, Laurl Matey and husband, Christopher, of Andover, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Emma and Corinne Brodowski, Samuel and Zachary Matey and her brother, Harold Ditzel and wife, Wanda, of Dallas, Texas.

One brother, Robert Ditzel, preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be conducted at 12:30 PM on Thursday, October 30, 2014, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Purcellville, Virginia, with Reverend David Miliam and Reverend Jessica McClure-Archer officiating.  Inurnment will be in St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Columbarium and Memorial Garden in Lynchburg, Virginia.