Ann Bennett Obituary

Ann Valerie' Bennett passed away, unexpectedly, at her home in South Portland, Maine. She was born in Rochester, New York and spent her childhood in Toronto, Canada, and Highland Park, Illinois, where she attended Highland Park High School. Ann was married to William Sterling Selden for 30 years until his passing in 1984. She lived in many places in Pennsylvania before settling in Glen Ellyn and Naperville, Illinois for 38 years. In 2005, she moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and more recently to South Portland, Maine. Ann Valerie' Bennett was an accomplished botanical artist, with a Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration from The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. She taught botanical watercolor at Morton Arboretum, the University of Southern Maine and Maine College of Art, both in Portland, Maine. She served as President of the Nature Artist Guild of The Morton Arboretum. Her most recent art exhibit was at the Cape Elizabeth Public Library. She was also a longstanding member of the Association of Botanical Artists, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, and the Audubon Society. Ann co-owned Elin Bennett, a clothing boutique in Naperville for 20 years. She ran for three years in a row in the Chicago Marathon. She was also a dedicated member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston for over 50 years, and a branch member at the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Glen Ellyn and Portland. Ann was blessed with a profound appreciation for nature and beauty which manifested itself in her art, in flower arranging and her love of the woods and sea. She had many friends who were drawn to her warm, enthusiastic and loving nature. She is survived by her sister, Eve Bennett of Portland, Maine and brother John Lehmann Bennett of Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by her children, Victoria Ann Selden of Massachusetts; William Selden of California; John Bennett Selden and wife Holly Selden, of Michigan; Paige Selden and husband Wade Bauer, of Washington; as well as two grandchildren, Nicholas Scott Murphy and Addison Grace Selden. Ann is also survived by nephews, Geoffrey E. Rittmeyer and Richard Freeman of California; and nieces, Sarah B. Rittmeyer of Montana, Susan Doundar of New Jersey and Lynn Munnikhuis of California. No memorial service will be held, however, donations in her name may be sent to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine (c/o Ft. Williams Charitable Foundation/ Arboretum, P.O. Box 6260, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 or The Christian Science Monitor, 210 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115. Arrangements by Hobbs Funeral Home.