Ann Lisa (Cook) Osto, 73, died peacefully June 6, in the compassionate care of Regional Hospice Center for Comfort Care and Healing in Danbury. She spent her final days surrounded by the love of family and friends. She was the daughter of John Lennart Nelson (born Gunnar Karlsson) of Gavle, Sweden, and Elsa Viola Vikberg Nelson of Rangsby, Finland. She was born in New York City, and grew up between New York and Connecticut.

Her former husband, David Cook, of Pinehurst, N.C.; and their four children, Russell Cook, and wife Darcy, of Newtown, Whendi Cook Broderick, and husband Daniel, of Oxford, Chrystene Makowicki of New Milford, and Paige Cook of Hot Springs, Ark.; three stepchildren, Joanne Marcinek, and husband John, of Newtown, Doreen Osto of Oakville, and Douglas Osto of New Zealand; her brother, John Nelson, and wife Barbara, of Cardinal, Va.; as well as several grandchildren, nieces, and nephews survive Ms Osto. Her beloved husband, Larry Osto, predeceased her. Ms Osto touched the lives of so many others, far too numerous to mention, with her warmth and caring.

She graduated from Danbury High School and studied art at New York University. She served as the secretary of the First Congregational Church of New Milford from 1977 to 1988, and then as an administrative assistant at Capital Management in Washington Depot until 1998, before retiring to Palm Coast, Fla.

Ms Osto was a prolific artist, an avid quilter, lifelong animal lover, and advocate for social justice. She enjoyed a rich social life with a wide circle of friends, and an active retirement that included cruises to Alaska, Russia, Scandinavia, and the Caribbean, as well as riding with the Southern Cruisers Motorcycle Club in Florida.

A memorial celebration will take place Friday, June 19, at 3 pm, at the First Congregational Church in New Milford. A second service will take place at Craig Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens in Palm Coast, where her cremains will be interred. The date has not yet been established.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charitable organization of your own choice or one of Ann's favorites, including www.silverlake.ctucc.org, www.animalwelfaresociety.org, www.cancerresearch.org, or www.diabetes.org.