Ann E. Eckman

Ann Elizabeth (Hilbish) Eckman left her earthly home on September 28, 2023, at 12:26 A.M., after a 13-year fight with Liposarcoma cancer. God took Ann to her eternal home. Anyone who knew Ann knows heaven is a brighter place with her there.

Ann is the daughter of John Lantz and Frances Hitchcock Hilbish of Drums, PA, who preceded her in death. Ann left behind her loving husband and caregiver Dennis ("Denny") L. Eckman; oldest son Daniel ("Dan") Lantz Eckman and daughter-in-law Molly Siebert Eckman, who gave her two grandsons, John ("Jack") Harro Eckman and William ("Will") Bennett Eckman of Seattle, WA; middle son Peter ("Pete") Christian Eckman and daughter-in-law Kristin Elizabeth (Weaver) Eckman, who gave her two granddaughters Charley ("Char") Elizabeth Eckman and Cameron ("Cam") McClennan Eckman of Port Orange, FL; and youngest son Luke Bennett Eckman of Carlisle, PA. She is also survived by her sister Nancy Hilbish Stark and brother-in-law Robert ("Bob") A. Stark, and nephew Robert ("Robby") A. Stark of Conyngham, PA; brother John ("Jef") Francis and sister-in-law Barbara ("Barb") Haube Hilbish of Bernville, PA; and her aunt, Nancy ("Nan") Hitchcock Lange of Ft. Washington, PA.

Ann was a 1967 graduate of Hazelton High School and a 1971 graduate of Susquehanna University, where she majored in German. Her professional career started as a teacher of German and later English over 13 years at Coughlin High School Wilkes Barre, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, and Carlisle Area School District as a substitute German and English teacher. After her sons were firmly through school, Ann became the Christian Ed Director at the First United Church of Christ in Carlisle for seven years, where she also taught Sunday School for seventeen years. Her final career was as a caregiver with Christian Companion, where she provided care and compassion to elderly persons needing social interaction, helped make meals, and provided general care. There, she loved to sit and listen to interesting stories from the client's life history. True to her form, Ann saw the good in everyone she served. Ann also enjoyed meeting many wonderful people while working the voting polls and relished in performing her civic duty. Anyone who has met Ann felt her warmth, love, and kindness immediately.

Ann's passions included enjoying her family, her children, and grandchildren; watching sports, especially tennis (and especially Federer, Alcaraz, and Gauff), and football (the Chiefs, Steelers, Seahawks, Penn State, University of Washington); when it came to baseball she loved watching the Yankees. Ann thoroughly enjoyed reading, spending time with her many friends, cooking, showing hospitality, serving others, making quilts for her grandchildren, volunteering almost every month for the Friends of the Bosler Bookery, UAA investment club, Fortnightly, and participating in her book club.

Ann was my best friend, wife, mother, and grandmother of our children. Each day, she exemplified the meaning of love, kindness, generosity, support, peacekeeping, and adventure. Ann saw the good in everyone she met. When diagnosed with rare Liposarcoma cancer in the fall of 2010, Ann committed to handling and fighting what she faced with "strength" and "grace." Her unconditional love, strength, and desire for adventure supported her life as a nurturer, amateur photographer, gardener, phenomenal cook, Jeopardy junkie, and an adventurous soul who, as a Girl Scout, would take polar bear swims at Camp Woodsmoke in Lake Placid New York, ski at Killington, fly airplanes, and whitewater raft the Youghiogheny River at high flow--leaving the boat for some added fun.

The silence without her presence is deafening, and she will be dearly missed, but she will always be fondly remembered!

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at First United Church of Christ, 30 N. Pitt St., Carlisle, PA 17013.

Following the service, there will be a social time to meet with the family to share stories about Ann, view a memory table, and enjoy some of her favorite music. A light lunch and drinks will be provided.

Donations in lieu of flowers are to be made in memory and honor of Ann E. Eckman and payable to "The Bookery" and sent to the following address: The Bookery, Bosler Library

158 W High St., Carlisle, PA 17013