Ann Hauanio

Ann Hauanio, 76, of Indianapolis, left the world behind Dec. 3 after months of commanding her own response to cancer.

The way she handled the disease to the end typified the way she lived her entire life with fierce independence and self-assurance, abundant love for her family, and a firm grasp of how she chose to spend every day.

Ann was born in Detroit June 4, 1944, the third of six children born to Eugene Betzold and Inez Ruwart. Growing up along Lake St. Clair, she loved swimming and on winter days sometimes skated down the lake to go to high school. After graduation she left for California and then Hawaii, where she met her future husband, Ed Hauanio. The family settled in Indianapolis in 1979.

Ann was never shy about speaking her mind and refused to conform to others’ expectations. She didn’t go along to get along and didn’t abide pretense but always followed her heart and honored her own truth and spirit.

Ann was unfailingly generous in giving her love, attention, and guidance to her children and grandchildren and even opened her home to their friends. She would give her last dime to friends and family members who needed it.

In all things that mattered, Ann was unafraid to be who she was or say what she thought. She wasn’t held back by any fear of others’ opinions of her and always found the humor, beauty, joy, and wisdom in daily life—even through calamity and pain. Even aggressive cancer did not rob her of her zest and curiosity.

Ann is survived by her daughters Debbie and Sandi Hauanio and her son Moke Hauanio; her grandchildren Shane, Alii, and Kekai; Shane’s wife, Amanda; the father of her children, Ed Hauanio; her sister Jane Benard; and her brothers Gary and Michael Betzold. She was preceded in death by her dear sisters Peggy Swift and Patricia Paniccia.

No services are scheduled at this time.