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Ann Knowles
ANN THAYER (SMITH) KNOWLES
Cedar Rapids
Devoted wife, mother and caregiver, Ann Thayer (Smith) Knowles, 82, died Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at Golden LivingCenter - Sleepy Hollow nursing home in Annandale, Va., with family and loving caregivers by her side.
Ann was born May 27, 1933, in Providence, R.I., to Thomas and Gertrude Smith. Ann graduated from Roger Williams Hospital School of Nursing (now part of Roger Williams University) in Providence. While attending nursing school, she met her future husband, John Paul Knowles, who was attending Providence College on a basketball scholarship. John and Ann were married in April 1954 at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Providence.
Ann and John moved to Cedar Rapids where they started their family. Ann was mother to six children and balanced raising her family with a career as a registered nurse. Ann and her family lived in Cedar Rapids, Daytona Beach, Fla., Jacksonville, Fla., and Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Ann and John were happily married for 38 years until John's passing in 1993. In 2006, Ann moved to Virginia to live with her daughter.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Gertrude Smith; brother, Thomas F. Smith Jr.; sister, Barbara Smith Martone; husband, John P. Knowles; and son, Michael J. Knowles.
Her children, Karen A. Lufkin of Fort Pierce, Fla., Barbara E. Peters of Middleburg, Fla., Catherine S. Knowles of Annandale, Va., Ellen P. Wallace of Jacksonville, Fla., and Thomas R. Knowles of Peachtree City, Ga., survive Ann. She also is survived by eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and four sons- and daughters-in-law.
Graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 21, at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ann T. Knowles, RN, "Diva Fund." This fund has been set up to assist nursing home residents without families or sufficient funds for haircuts at Golden Living Center – Sleepy Hollow nursing home, 6700 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003. Attention: Karen Williams, business office.
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