Ann Dizadare's Obituary
Ann was born in Pelican Louisiana, October 10, 1917 to Elijah and Alma Reddick. Elijah had 4 children, married Alma and had Ann and her two siblings. They lived in the county. Their land had a house, school and church. Later the town named Reddick Street and Elijah highway after Ann’s father. Their school teacher lived in the house with the family. On school days the children would frolic until their father came home, then they would scamper to their seats.
At 18, Ann married Sam Dizadare and moved to Detroit where Sam worked in the auto industry. Ann’s mother moved to California. Ann and Sam followed eventually settling in Oakland, California where they owned Sam’s Auto Repair. A neighbor invited Ann to Oakland Revivial Tabernacle, where she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, under Pastor Dr. Cecil J. Lowry PhD, it would transform her life. Ann became a pillar in the church, if she missed a Sunday, Dr. Lowry would visit her on Monday to see if she was ill. Ann was steadfast immovable in her Faith in Jesus Christ. God’s Love, joy and peace flowed out of her life continually.
Ann enjoyed hospitality. She regularly prepared dinner for family and friends. She opened her home for 20 years to Primo, a Filipino immigrant. He lived with her family until returning to his homeland to die.
At the age of 55 the Holy Spirit told Ann to get a job. She would work until age 72 retiring from Alta Bates Hospital to care in her home for her family until they died. First came sister Mary who had gone blind. Then her brother Jimmy and her mother Alma. She then went daily for four years to care for her sister Gussie until she died. Ann was then 90 years old. During those years she joined Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, CA where she formed many loving, caring and lasting friendships.
Ann spent her final years continuing daily in bible reading, watching Christian TV and intercessory prayer. She loved cats and kept three. After 94 years of health, she was faced with losing her eyesight. She told her doctor, “I need to keep my eyesight because I want to see Jesus when I die.” She believed, had great faith and persevered in daily prayer. She kept her eyesight until she saw Jesus.
Last week Ann went to the hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia, she seemed to recover then her last evening she enjoyed lighthearted sharing with friend Rhonda. The next afternoon, January 23, 2015 after much prayer with Carolyn Vasconcellos at her bedside, holding her hand, Ann stopped breathing. The thought came “Ann has received her reward.”
2 Corinthians 5
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
What’s your fondest memory of Ann?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ann?
Share a story where Ann's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ann you’ll never forget.
How did Ann make you smile?