Ann Gabel

Devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Ann Gabel died on January 2, 2024. The oldest daughter of Dr. John and Vera Grimm, she was born and raised in Santa Monica, CA. She received her Associates Degree from Stephens College, Columbia, MO and her Bachelor’s Degree from Dallas Baptist University. She married 1st Lieutenant USAF, William R. Gabel on May 1st, 1965, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Pacific Palisades, CA. She leaves her loving husband of 58 years, Rod Gabel, son Bill and wife Sheila Gabel of Plano, TX, daughter Suzannah Aftosmis of Allen TX, and 6 treasured grandchildren - Berkeley Ann, Sydney Marie, and Addison Grace Gabel and Brooke Ann, Kylie Elizabeth and Brady James Aftosmis. She also leaves her brother Bill and wife Joan Grimm of Santa Maria, CA, sister Suzannah and husband Marshall Sale of Santa Fe, NM as well as numerous adored nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews in CA, TX, OR and GA. Her brother, John, pre-deceased her in 2002. During her life Ann often referred to herself as a ‘Jack of all trades, Master of none”. However, her membership in the Junior League led her to a much loved and successful 30-year career in Volunteer Services Management in hospitals. She retired from Texas Health Resources as systems wide Director of Volunteer Services. Prior to that, she led volunteers at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston TX, Presbyterian Hospital, Plano TX, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas TX, Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, Dallas TX and Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. She was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Dallas and served as President of the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield, NJ, President of the Houston TX and the Dallas TX Directors of Volunteers in hospitals and President of the Texas Association of Directors of Volunteer Services. Her commitment to volunteer services was punctuated with the dedication in her name of the Ann G. Gabel Volunteer Center at the Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. Ann will be missed by all those that knew her. She was a selfless individual who approached life with a heart full of compassion, humility and grace. Despite physical challenges, she pursued many creative outlets some of which included building decorative keepsake scrapbooks and documenting family history for her family and relatives. Notably, she loved connecting with her dear friends and gathering in her elaborate craft room, spending countless hours swapping stories and thoughtfully, making one-of-a-kind handmade cards for those special occasions for friends and family or sometimes just to say she was thinking of you. She was always considerate of others, and this was amplified in her final act of donating her body to the UT Southwestern Medical Center for furthering MS and other medical research. The family wishes a special thank you to the UT Southwestern MS Clinic and its staff for their loving care provided to Ann for over 30 years. They helped her find her way with MS and all of its challenges. In lieu of flowers, Ann requests memorial gifts be directed in her memory to either: • UT Southwestern Medical Center, PO Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or online at https://engage.utsouthwestern.edu/donate-now to support the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic • Texas Health Resources Foundation, PO Box 200038, Arlington, TX 76006 or online at www.TexasHealth.org/donate (select Texas Heath Dallas and type Volunteer Services Dept. under the Specify Program box). A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Friday, February 23, 2024 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (6306 Kenwood Avenue, Dallas, TX).

Ann Gabel

December 30, 1943 - January 2, 2024