Dear friends and followers of Annie’s blog,
We wanted to share with you that Annie peacefully passed away this morning at 2:30am, surrounded by family. Her death was very gentle, exactly the way she wanted to go.
You are invited to share thoughts or memories of Annie in the blog comments below.
The family is planning a memorial for September, and will post the details when they become known.
With love and appreciation for your friendship with Annie,
Ann McGovern Scheiner’s Family
Annie's Octopuses and Other Critters 
What an amazing talent Ann was…her legacy will continue in all her amazing books that have touched generations of readers and will continue to do so. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time…. Xo Liza
Goodbye and peace, sweet Annie. You’ll be loved and missed through our lifetimes. A life well lived, our friend. You gave light and laughter to all of us and to millions you never met. Love and respect you, Anne and John Janas
Our Dearest Annie lived and died with elegance and a memory for all of us. She was a mentor, a dearest friend and a jewel with generosity of spirit, love and so many talents.
I extend my sympathy to Annie’s family–my prayers and thoughts are with you.
I am missing you a great deal Annie–your radiance will be with me always.
With much love and admiration,
Natalie Hahn
Annie is an inspiration — of how to live life to the fullest and to die with dignity and grace. While it’s painful to say goodbye, there’s comfort in knowing she passed in peace, surrounded by loved ones. So glad we got to visit last weekend. Today I read Stone Soup and Too Much Noise to the kids, part of her lasting legacy. We love you, Annie, and Annie’s family. Sending big hugs and kisses, Lilia, Matt, Jayna and Max
Wow!
I was just looking at pictures of Annie and Mom today as I was going through her pictures . I have so many fond memories of Annie.
What an amazing, wonderful spirit that has just left us.
A true force of nature!
Go Annie!
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers,
🙏
Annie will always be with us. We have so many memories of her great smile, her radiance, her energy, her endless curiosity about everything, and her devotion and love for her family. Annie told me 2 weeks ago that she wanted to come back as a butterfly. Well, Annie, you must have been visiting the store in Lenox on Thursday where I saw a dragonfly design on a Lee Anderson dress; and you must have been visiting when I was at the Norman Rockwell Museum yesterday and saw a painted dragonfly on the table in the Ladies Room. You taught us how to live, and also how to die.
I’ll keep an eye out for your next appearance!
Liz Levine
oh gosh, I made a mistake in the comment. I meant that she said she wanted to come back as a dragonfly, not a butterfly.
I send my deepest condolences to you, the family of Annie, including Ralph, the only one of you I’ve met. I wanted to share with you what I posted about Annie for my friends on FB. In my post, “my very own BC” means my fiance, Billy Collins, who sends his sympathy to you as well.
All love & sympathy,
Suzannah Gilman and Billy Collins
—
Today, the world lost a strong, adventurous, fearless woman, Ann McGovern.
She wrote over 55 children’s books, including “Stone Soup,” which I read to my children over and over. (“Soup from a stone? Fancy that!”) Imagine my joy in meeting her one January in Key West when she was taking a poetry workshop led by my very own BC.
I knew this past January that I was not likely to see Annie again because she was still fighting cancer, and I know that if it can be said that anyone lived a full life, she did, but I am still sad that she has left us.
I am humbled that she called me her friend.
I would say “Rest in Peace, Annie,” but if there’s even a particle of her somewhere, I guarantee it’s in motion– and probably searching for an even more exotic place to explore.
I used this photo of her. https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1585139547/Ann.jpg
To Peter and all the Scheiner’s:
Ann was very dear to me. I am so glad her passing went as she planned. I am also glad that I had an extended visit with her last September.
Right now I am saddened that her bright light is gone in physical form but not in spirit.
Valerie Harms Bozeman, Montana
You may not know that she once came out to visit me here and we went horseback riding among other things.
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My deepest condolences to the family. Annie will be deeply missed.
Dear Annie’s family, and to Alison,
My condolences to you all, who helped prepare Annie for this final journey in our sphere.
There may be no more airline tickets to buy to conferences and vacations, but she is still flying. I miss her already.
“The temple bell stops ringing
but the sound keeps coming out of the flower.”
love from Sas Colby
Thinking of all the people whose lives were touched by Annie. Our condolences.
Love from Kerim & Shashwati
My deepest condolences to the family. Goodbye and rest in peace Annie. Gabriela Pinto
Dear Annie’s Family
Annie had a zest for life, a terrific sense of humor, a marvelous & colorful style, an unstoppable urge to create, and a gargantuan ability to love. I feel blessed that we were friends for over 40 years. I am going to miss her very much.
With love, Pat Lenz
The first time I met Annie I came home and told my son, then about six, that I had met Anne Mc Govern. He said, “Anne Mc Govern! The author?!” and was very excited. The next time I saw Anne, she gave me an autographed copy of “Sharks” to give to Harry. Years passed, and it was always great to see Annie at various events. The last time I saw her, she told me she was ill, had cancer, but was writing poetry and doing a blog — this was this past spring, I believe. When I got the email, I went into my son’s room and told him the sad news. He completely recalled the book from many years ago. Anne, you were beautiful in every way. So glad I knew you a little.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints of snow.
I am the sunlight on the ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there
I did not die
Hopi Prayer
Dearest Annie you will always be close to my heart…Love
My kids and I were fortunate to meet Ann and benefit from her amazing space when we visited NYC in 2013. They were so impressed that she was an author and that she lived in a building with a Doorman, close to Central Park. Thank you Jill and Charlie for making that connection for us. Moko says that Ann helped him to learn more about sharks, through her book that she gave him. Our thoughts are with you and your family. It sounds like Ann’s process of dying and starting her next journey was full of love and trust.
I send all heartfelt condolences to you all, the family Annie loved so much. UIt was a gift to know her. Love, Jenny Allen
Annie was a beautiful colorful butterfly
pollinating whom ever she came across. I can
remember her in my dressing room changing
clothing with such a delight it was contagious.
Or, reading her poems in Lenox or in Bobbi’s studio.
Always regenerating. Morphing. Creating and moving.
Her departure reaffirm life’s glory.
Thank you Annie for flying our my orbit.
Annie I continue to admire and rejoice in your special joie. You have long been my muse – whether it was your astounding resilience or your spectacular jewelry. You set the bar very high.
I love you and am so grateful for your wisdom. You have taught us all how to live and now you have taught us how to die with dignity and grace and gratitude. Thank you dear friend for sharing so much of yourself with so many of us.
With love, Dede
If I could have been someone else, Annie is someone I would have liked to be: for her boundless warmth and generosity, her openness, graciousness, her unbridled enthusiasm for life, her charm, her intelligence. What a splendid person and what a beautiful family she has produced. Annie was magical in her embrace of life and all its creatures, and I am so grateful to have known her and become her friend.
Love Elizabeth Coleman