Ann was born June 1, 1926 in Philadelphia, of immigrant parents, Frank and Martha.
She was predeceased by her brothers Frank, Jr and Andy, and her sister Mary.
Ann trained as a registered nurse (RN) at Pennsylvania Hospital (“Pennsy,” as she always called it), choosing to serve our country through the United States Cadet Nurse Corps.By the time she became an RN, World War II was over, but Ann had performed so well in training that she received honors and was invited to stay on at Pennsy as a surgical nurse. Several years later, she spent a summer in the Jackson Hole Wyoming hospital, but family drew her back and she moved to a position at Princeton Hospital, then to the Princeton University Infirmary.
Ann’s Slovak heritage meant a great deal to her; she was a lifelong member of the National Slovak Society, especially enjoying and cooking Slovak food and, in earlier years, community picnics that included gymnastics, dancing (Slovak and American) and Slovak songs. Folk dancing at Princeton led to meeting Jim Stasheff, a graduate student at the University, who shared a Slavic heritage and was struck by her ‘presence’ as a dancer.
Ann and Jim were married in Philadelphia on Sept 19, 1959 in Ann’s home Catholic parish, then left for Oxford where Jim was completing his graduate studies. While in Europe, Ann and Jim visited her relatives in Slovakia (who welcomed them with royal hospitality). In the Fall of 1960, they left England for Massachusetts, where their son Steven was born (after a somewhat harrowing voyage across the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II during her 6th month of pregnancy!). Next stop was Notre Dame U, where their daughter Kim was born in 1963. Ann raised her children with a life of faith, demonstrated by her own selfless caring for others, including frequently putting her nursing skills to work. This influenced Steve and Kim’s future career choices.
Ann was later happy to return to Princeton for Jim’s year-long leave at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), nearer to her parents as well as her sister’s and brother’s families. After a few more years at Notre Dame, Jim’s position at Temple U brought them back to the Philadelphia area to put down lasting roots. This gave Ann more chances to enjoy her family and to look after not only Kim, Steve, and her own parents, but also in turn her sister Mary and brother Andy.
Ann’s artistic side showed in oil painting with her mother-in-law, various craft projects in the home and with the children’s schools, and later blossomed in a sculpture class, including a small statue based on her children. In addition, she participated in cooking classes, the Doylestown Nature Club, and various faith-related courses.
Over the years, Ann enjoyed visiting Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Italy and Paris. In time, Ann was able to visit Slovakia again, first accompanying Jim to professional meetings in Vienna or Prague and later with Steve just in time to celebrate her 80thbirthday in Bratislava.
Ann is survived by her husband, Jim; son Steve and his wife, Colleen, their children Paul and Brendan; daughter Kim and her husband Francis, their children Larissa and Rachelle, and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Stanislaus Church, 51 Lansdale Ave., Lansdale, PA at 10:15 AM, Saturday Dec 14. The immediate family will be there to welcome you between 9 and 10:15 AM.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish might donate to a charity such as health care research, Pennsylvania Hospital or the National Slovak Society.
Special thanks to the exceptional caregivers at Foulkeways at Gwynedd, who not only were compassionate to and appreciative of Ann, but who were also very supportive of Jim.