Annabelle McClelland Gross

Gross, Annabelle (Ann) Alice McClelland, age 90, of Plymouth, MN passed away at 2:02am on 10/20/2020 of natural causes.

Annabelle was born 1/22/1930, the second of identical twins, to Robert John and Annabelle Wallace McClelland in Brooklyn, NY. She spent her early childhood in Philadelphia, PA with her twin sister Francis Mae McClelland and younger brother Robert John McClelland Jr.

When she was 9, the family moved to Riverside, IL. Part of a musical lineage, she and her siblings studied piano, organ and voice. Ann spent years singing soprano with the choir at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (Mpls), with her husband, Erv.

She met Ervin (Erv) George Gross of Bowdle, SD while at Gregg Business College in Chicago, They married in 1951 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Riverside, IL and relocated to Minnesota where Erv began his career as a Court Reporter.  They created a family and legacy, raising 5 daughters in Minnetonka, MN. In retirement, they wintered in Tucson, AZ, near Ann’s twin sister, Fran, and her husband Lamar (Mike) Michaels. They relished their years, together, playing golf and bridge.

In 2010, due to health issues, they moved into Summerwood of Plymouth’s Assisted Living and created a life there, an inspiration for their children. Annabelle lost her beloved husband, Ervin, after 66 years of marriage in 2017 from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Annabelle carried on with graciousness, dignity and strength to celebrate her 90 ^th birthday on 1/2020, surrounded by her loving family. We want to thank Summerwood of Plymouth for their faithful care during the past decade, and for their kind support of Ann during the past 7-mos of isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The family especially thanks Minnesota daughters Joanne Boyer, Judy Paulson and Jean Dillon as devoted primary caregivers. We are grateful they obtained essential caregiving status so they could be with Ann the last week of her life. We have lost the centerpiece of our family, but she will always be in our hearts.

Annabelle was preceded in death by her parents, Robert, Sr. and Annabelle McClelland; her brother Robert, Jr. and wife, Alta McClelland; her dearly loved husband Ervin Gross; her cherished twin Frances and husband, Lamar Michaels.

Annabelle is survived by daughters, Janet (Richard) Hogue, Joanne (John) Boyer, Judith (Randy) Paulson, Jean (John) Dillon and Jennifer (Michael) Grais; grandchildren, Kelly Hogue (Christopher) Harland, Kaitlyn Hogue (Julian) Mellini, Bryan (Kristin) Boyer, Nathan (Tiffany) Boyer, Jacob Boyer, Casey (BreAnna) Paulson, Rachel Paulson, Josephine and Jackson Dillon; great-grandchildren, Aiden and Arabella Boyer, William and Annabelle Harland, Brynn Paulson and Zoe Mellini; and extended families of her sister and brother.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, no services will be held. She will be laid to rest, with her husband, Ervin, in the Columbarium of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (Mpls). Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org)