Ann Marie Johnson, 67, lifelong resident of Albuquerque, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in an Albuquerque hospital where she had been recovering from a recent illness and surgery. She was born on March 9, 1958, at St. Joseph's Hospital, the second child of Robert H. "Bob" and Mary Moore Johnson.

Ann attended Queen of Heaven School and St. Pius before graduating from Del Norte High School with the class of 1976, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society and was a member of the Castelles drill team that marched in the 1976 Rose Bowl Parade. While in high school, she worked at Alonzo's Pizza to save money to buy her beloved turquoise Chevy Camaro. Following graduation, she worked at American Furniture under the tutelage of her mentor and dear friend, Carmen Duran, a job she always remembered fondly.

She went on to complete her bachelor's degree at the University of New Mexico in 1992 while working full-time, and eventually made a career in insurance, helping people navigate the complexities of health insurance — assistance she would freely offer to family and friends as well, whenever they found themselves buried in medical paperwork after a loved one had been sick or passed. Most recently, she worked as a Benefits Analyst in the benefits department at Albuquerque Public Schools, where she had been employed for 13 years at the time of her death. Even from her hospital bed, she was concerned about her coworkers having to shoulder more of the work in her absence.

She lived her whole life in Albuquerque, apart from a year in 5th grade when the family followed her father's Air National Guard posting to Oklahoma City. Ann loved her city and was a proud Burqueña who cherished New Mexico history, antique and thrift shops, museums, and the Sandia Mountains. She collected vintage children's toys and brooches, and had an artist's eye for beautiful, traditional furnishings and art. She could also get fired up watching a Lobo men's basketball game and loved sitting up late at night reading novels or books on history.

A dedicated mother, daughter, and sister, she had a kind word for just about everyone, but she was strong in her convictions and expected a lot from the people closest to her — and from herself. As she often told her son, "To whom much is given, much will be expected." She showed that conviction every day, from visiting with elderly friends on the weekends to offering rides to strangers she felt needed help. She was, by all accounts, a fierce protector of her siblings and a loyal and loving friend.

Ann enjoyed volunteering and, some might say, felt compelled to give back. She was active in the Del Norte AlumKnights organization and served on the 1976 Del Norte Homecoming Committee. She was a member of the Albuquerque Historical Society and made it a point to support local institutions she believed in, including PBS.

Ann was also devoted to giving back in more personal ways. She volunteered her time to the Albuquerque Academy, where her son attended school for five years and from which they received generous financial aid. She volunteered every Sunday at the Academy library, helping with various tasks, including reshelving books (though she admitted she was slow at this because she would just start reading the books). She also spent a season helping organize the concession stand for sporting events, which she felt was perhaps not her calling when it came to volunteering.

She was looking forward to retiring and taking road trips with her partner, Tim. She was overjoyed to travel to New York City in April 2025 to witness the wedding of her only child, Robby, to her now daughter-in-law, Cori — who immediately became the favorite child upon her introduction to the family. She got to see the Statue of Liberty, visited the 9/11 Memorial, and enjoyed seeing Carroll Gardens, the Brooklyn neighborhood her son has called home for 14 years.

Per her wishes, Ann was an organ donor and has been cremated. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert H. "Bob" and Mary Moore Johnson; her grandmother, Elizabeth Moore; and her brother-in-law, Robert R. Chaison, Jr.

She is survived by her son, Robert "Robby" Nelson and his wife, Cori Swanson, of Brooklyn, NY; her partner and Robby's father, Tim Nelson of Albuquerque; her sisters Mignonne Chaison of Byron, Wyoming, Roberta "Robin" Jaramillo of Albuquerque, and Mary Adele "Della" Kunkle and her husband Richard Kimmins of Willis, Texas; and her brothers Steven Johnson and his wife Naomi, and Gale Johnson, both of Albuquerque. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Mark E. Johnson, his wife Perla and daughter Charlotte, Victoria "Tori" Johnson, and Antonio Johnson, all of Albuquerque; and Billie Nicole Kunkle of Willis, Texas, and Billie Nicole's children Zayl, Drew, and Spencer. Ann is further survived by her uncle David Johnson and aunt Mary Frances Johnson Popejoy of Fort Collins, Colorado; her beloved Oregon cousins Mark, Matt, and Chris Moore, Helen Moore Doherty, Patricia Moore Bentz, and Jean Moore Thomas; and her long-time and faithful friends Carolyn Form Gonzales, Barb Johnson, and many others too numerous to mention.

Her family and friends are heartbroken at her passing and will miss her tremendously. If you knew Ann and would like to celebrate her life, please join the family for a memorial service on Saturday, March 7, at noon, at the Albuquerque Museum in the Ventana Salon — two days before what would have been her 68th birthday.

The family is also holding a rosary at Queen of Heaven on Friday, March 6 at 4:30 p.m.