Ann Wenke Noice

On Tuesday, October 29th, 2024, Ann Wenke Noice, loving wife, aunt,
and mother of three passed away at the age of 90. Ann was born June
29th, 1934 in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY to Otto Wenke and Mary
Hammond Wenke. Her father worked for DuPont in the Empire State
Building, DuPont being one of the first tenants during the Great
Depression. This job led the Wenke family to Wilmington, Delaware,
where Ann resided for her childhood and into her adulthood. She
attended St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine in elementary school, where a
nun decided that she was tall enough to be in first grade at the age of 5.
She later graduated from Ursuline Academy as valedictorian and earned
a perfect score on her SATs, leading her to attend and earn her Bachelor
of Science from the University of Delaware.

Ann’s parents purchased a sailing cruise as a graduation gift where she
traveled to Camden, Maine with two college friends. It was on the boat
Adventure that she first caught Benson Noice’s eye, and he later pushed
her overboard in order to get her attention. They were married on New
Year’s Eve in 1955. Initially living in North Jersey, but later moving back
to North Wilmington, Delaware, Ann and Ben had three children: Dave,
Rick and Cathy. Ann stayed at home for the first few years but later
returned to work as a Medical Technologist for the Delaware Hospital. 
The family enjoyed many summers at Camp DeWitt in Wolfeboro, New
Hampshire. While Benson ran the camp’s waterfront activities, Ann
looked after their daughter as the boys attended as campers. She spent
idyllic days on the beach of Robert’s Cove of Lake Winnipesaukee with
other counselors’ wives and daughters. Frequently, the entire family
would take sailing trips on the lake before summer’s end. 

Retirement brought a move to the West Coast as grandchildren were
added to the family. While living in Windsor, California, Ann and Ben
spent their time doting on their four grandchildren, Katie, Megan, Natalie,
and Benson. Many holiday feasts were enjoyed and “Nana” would
always ask at the end of every meal if everyone was “sufficiently
suffonsified”. As a devout Catholic her whole life, Ann served as
treasurer for many years at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Windsor.

Ann and Ben traveled extensively through Europe, Asia and Australia
and frequently traveled with Ann’s brother Dave and wife Karen. The
four racked up thousands miles touring the Great Wall of China, the
fjords of New Zealand, and the backroads of England. The highlight of
their travels was a tour of Russia, where Ann would vividly recall floating
down the Volga River as an orchestra played Dr. Zhivago’s Lara’s
Theme as they passed by the autumnal leaves. 

Ann and Ben moved to North Carolina following their daughter and
grandchildren.  Many afternoons were spent at marching band
competitions and soccer games, cheering on Natalie and Benson.  The
couple later moved to senior living in New Mexico. After the passing of
her beloved husband, Benson, she relocated to beautiful Sequim,
Washington. She spent her final years enjoying many hours of playing
bridge with her numerous friends at The Lodge, highlighted with the
wedding of her granddaughter Natalie at a local lavender farm and the
celebration of her 90th birthday with all of her family in attendance.
During her final weeks under hospice care, she spent her time
reminiscing with her family and friends about her wonderful life.

Ann is survived by her sons and their spouses, David and Judy Noice
and Richard Noice and Sarina Farley, and her daughter, Catharine
Noice. She has four grandchildren, Katie Quach-Noice (Rachel), Megan
Noice (Wil), Natalie Robles (Kevin) and Benson Robles, two great
granddaughters Judith and Eloise, one great grandson Archie and many
nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband,
Benson Noice Jr., her mother, Mary Hammond Wenke, her father, Otto
Rudolf Wenke, and her brother, David Wenke.

At her request, internment of her ashes and that of her husband’s will be
at St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine in the Spring of 2025.  The family
would like to thank Assured Hospice of Port Angeles and The Lodge at
Sherwood Village for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org

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