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Ann Charbonneau, 62, passed away on Feb. 18 at Yale New Haven Hospital, following a brief illness. She was the wife of Michael Hlavna.

Born in Waterbury on July 24, 1958, to the late Leo and Audrey (Bradshaw) Charbonneau, she was raised in Watertown, attended local schools, and graduated from Sacred Heart High School, Class of 1976. Following graduation she attended Stone School of Business in New Haven. She also attended Western Connecticut State University, studying drama and acting, as well as the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. She worked locally for a few years before heading to New York City to pursue an acting career.

Ann received intensive drama training at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute where she met and was personally tutored by Shelley Winters. She was an extra in 1984’s Ghostbusters and had a credited screen role in 1989’s Toxic Avenger 2. She was a voting member of SAG-AFTRA and for many years enjoyed hosting movie award screening parties at her home in East Haven.

Ann worked as a disc jockey at K104-FM WSPK in Poughkeepsie, New York, and then at STAR 99.9 WEZN-FM in Bridgeport as the host of “Love Songs at Night”, using the stage name “Anne Duranne”. She also worked at Coudert Brothers’ Law Firm as a word processing operator and as an assistant to Arthur Hadley, a writer and lecturer on military history.

Ann was an avid reader. She enjoyed traveling to New England destinations and exploring American history, especially the Revolutionary War. She enjoyed all genre of movies from documentaries to romance to horror and loved a good “jump scare.” She liked to keep her hands busy with painting and craft projects. She studied interior design as a hobby and was always planning and trying new design choices for her home. She was especially interested in mid-century modern houses and furniture.

Ann appreciated fine food and discovering new restaurants. She enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen and was happiest when she hit a “culinary homerun,” which was often. She took great pleasure in her daily two-mile walks with her husband and two beloved Bichon Frise dogs, Sophie and Harry. She relished life on the coast, having a quiet glass of wine at the beach with her husband and dogs admiring the sunset at the Long Island Sound.

Ann loved dancing and dance music of all kinds from standards to contemporary sounds. She was full of life! Her smile lit up a room and her laugh was infectious. She will be greatly missed!

Besides her husband Michael, Ann is survived by her sister Susan Atkins and her husband Victor, her brother John Charbonneau and his wife Susan, her nieces Megan Skrzyniarz and her husband Michael and their children Alex and Julia and Dana Neave and her daughter Brynn, and her aunts Doris Charbonneau and Marilyn (Bradshaw) Sartori, as well as several cousins and close friends.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister Lorene Neave.

Private graveside services will be held at a later date. There are no calling hours. The Hickcox Funeral Home, 195 Main Street, Watertown, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund, 389 Meadow Street, Waterbury, CT 06722. For additional information or to leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.hickcoxfuneralhome.com.