Ann Thayer Knowles

Ann Thayer (Smith) Knowles, 82, died Monday, January 25, 2016 at Golden LivingCenter - Sleepy Hollow nursing home in Annandale, Virginia with family and loving caregivers by her side.

Ann was born May 27, 1933, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Thomas and Gertrude Smith.

Ann graduated from Roger Williams Hospital School of Nursing (now part of Roger Williams University) in Providence, RI. 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 of 1954 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Providence.

Ann and John moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa 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, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. 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 Ft. Pierce, FL, Barbara E. Peters of Middleburg, FL, Catherine S. Knowles of Annandale, VA, Ellen P. Wallace of Jacksonville, FL and Thomas R. Knowles of Peachtree City, GA, survive Ann. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 4 sons and daughters-in-law.

Service will be February 4, 2016, 2pm at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 6800 Columbia Pike Annandale, VA. A Celebration of Life ceremony will follow at the Parish Hall. Burial will take place at 11:00AM on April 21, 2016 at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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 LivingCenter – Sleepy Hollow nursing home, 6700 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003. Attention: Karen Williams, Business Office.

Arrangements are being handled by Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046. Phone number, 703-533-0341.