Ann Ledesma Hamilton

Ann LeDesma Hamilton, 99, of Oklahoma City, passed away on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, after suffering a stroke in April, 2021. She was born on March 2, 1922, in El Paso, Texas, to Rafaela Jimenez Cuilty and Salvador Cuilty. She grew up in Oxnard, California, the third oldest of 13 children. When Ann was 18, her father unexpectedly passed away when he was just 40-years-old. Despite her love of school, Ann, along with a brother and sister, dropped out of school to work and support their large family. When asked about this difficult time in her young life, Ann said, "We don't understand, but we know God helps us. You manage. You're happy in your own environment." Ann remained close with her many brothers and sisters, and when they gathered together to visit, there was always joy, laughter, and music. She was blessed to have her mother, who lived to be 101-years-old and who instilled her Christian values.During World War II, Ann moved 250 miles from home to work for the U.S. Department of Censorship where she put her bilingual skills to work. Her job was to translate international telephone calls to determine if the calls going in and out of the U.S. had any sensitive war related information. After the war, Ann married David Guzman LeDesma, and they had two daughters, Carol and Diane, and two sons, David and Gerald. She and David were married for 37 years and enjoyed many family vacations and an annual Easter picnic with extended family.Ann was such a tremendously strong person that her youngest daughter, Diane, referred to her as her "Mighty Oak." But this strength was tested through two of the greatest tragedies in Ann's life, the death of her youngest son, Gerry, who was killed in a car accident at age 19, and the loss of her 12-year-old brother, Richard, who had spinal meningitis.Ann believed in the power of hard work, and despite her lack of a formal education, she went on to attend business school where she honed her typing skills and learned stenography, which led to a series of secretarial positions. She later became a successful real estate agent and was honored to serve on the Oxnard Realty Board. In 1960, Ann and Dave moved their family to Thousand Oaks, California, where Ann became the first secretary for the Thousand Oaks Chamber of Commerce. There she made a lifelong friend, Ellie, who is now 102. The two have remained in touch over the years. During this time, Ann also owned a successful children's dress shop, called Tinkerbell's, and she fondly recalled that her youngest daughter, Diane, modeled clothes for her.In 1991, Ann married James "Jim" Hamilton, who was a wonderful companion, musician, and artist. They danced, traveled, and enjoyed their 12 years together until Jim began to show signs of Alzheimer's disease. Years after his death, Ann still proudly displayed Jim's paintings on the walls of her retirement home.After Jim's death, Ann moved to Oklahoma City, in 2004, to be near her oldest daughter, Carol, son-in-law, Frank, and Ann's grandchildren, Stacey and Cristina, and Ann's great-grand-children, Talia, Isabella, Griffin, and Price, who lovingly referred to her as "Grannie Annie." Even in retirement, she participated in a runway modeling show for seniors at her first retirement home at Town Village. In 2006, she moved to Saint Ann's Retirement Center as it was closer to her family and located across the street from her parish, Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church. At St. Ann's, she was a welcome ambassador and enjoyed helping newcomers adjust to their new retirement home. Even in her mid-90s, she frequently visited friends and priests in both the St. Ann's assisted living unit and the St. Ann's nursing home.She loved traveling and explored the world even in her later years. She visited Italy and was awed by the beauty of the Vatican, especially Michelangelo's Pieta. She also took a breath-taking trip to Vancouver, B.C. Ann fondly recalled her trip to Buckingham Palace and her cruises to Panama, Mexico, and Alaska. One of her favorite trips was to Ireland where she located the town of Quilty, which is where Ann's Irish maiden name of Cuilty derived. Ann was very generous and took her entire family (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren) on a fun-filled Mexican cruise. She donated to many charitable causes, supporting children and the poor who were dear to her heart, as she was raised in a family with limited financial means. She was routinely found in the halls of St. Ann's working jigsaw puzzles for hours on end. Ann would give her completed puzzles to the Carmelite sisters so that they could sell them. The proceeds from the sales were donated to a school on the Iraq-Syrian border that was run by St. Catherine of Sienna Dominican sisters. When asked what her secret to a long life was, Ann said that a sweet treat after each meal and an aperitif in the evening kept her young. She loved casinos and could walk up to a cold slot machine and hit almost every time. She loved Las Vegas, as well as playing cards and dominoes. Hand and Foot became one of her favorite card game. Sometimes her family would invite her to go on an outing, and she would politely decline because she had a weekly commitment to play Nickel-Nickel at St. Ann's on Sundays, Bingo on Mondays and Wednesdays, Dominoes on Thursdays, and an occasional Bunko game with church friends. Her social calendar was fuller than the calendars of her younger family members.As she grew older, Ann began attending Mass at St. Ann's chapel. Ann was devoted to praying the Rosary, a Catholic practice that she passed on to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. During a recent visit to Ann, when her health was declining, her grand-daughter Cristina climbed into Ann's hospital bed with her and helped Ann hold the Rosary beads as they recited the Our Father and Hail Mary. Ann's entire family made it a practice not to leave her bedside without blessing her with holy water from Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in France and praying with Ann before they departed for the night. Although Ann's passing will leave an irreplaceable emptiness in their hearts, her family is comforted immensely by the knowledge that Ann will be joyously greeted in heaven by her Savior, her beloved son Gerry, and all the loving family members who preceded her in death.Ann was preceded in death by her husband David G. LeDesma, husband James "Jim" Hamilton; her siblings Eva Ruffenach (Henry), Anna Cuilty, Esequiel Cuilty, Ray Cuilty (Hilda), Emma Marti (Hal), Armando Cuilty, Sam Cuilty, Richard Cuilty, Freddie Cuilty; and her son Gerald LeDesma.Ann is survived by three siblings: Gloria Perez Flodman, Rachel Teran (Ray), Salvador "Tony" Cuilty (Rosemarie); sister-in-law: Elisa Cuilty; Ann's children: Carol Ann Wiebelt (Frank), Oklahoma City, OK, David James LeDesma (Teresa) Coachella, CA, and Diane Michelle LeDesma (Wendy), Douglasville, GA; Ann's grandchildren: Cristina Wiebelt-Smith (Roger), Stacey Wiebelt, Rosemary Fonseca (Oscar), David A. LeDesma, Kristal LeDesma; and her great-grandchildren: Talia Brown-Wiebelt, Isabella, Griffin, and Price Wiebelt-Smith, and twins Emmanuel and Gabriel Fonseca. Ann also leaves many nieces and nephews and godchildren, who all dearly loved her.In Ann's memory, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made online to Willow Pregnancy Support of OKC (willowpregnancy.org) or mailed to St. Vincent de Paul Society (Epiphany of the Lord Church) 7336 W. Britton Rd., Oklahoma City, OK 73132 or any charity of your choice.To watch the Livestream of the Mass of Christian Burial for Ann, please visit: Facebook.com\epiphanyokc