Obituary of Ann Elizabeth Straub

Ann Elizabeth Faust Straub, 82, passed away on Tuesday July 7, 2009 during a brief hospital stay. Ann had been an active senior resident of Basking Ridge since moving to the area in 2002 to live with her daughter Katie Straub and family; son-in-law Michael Schlemovitz and beloved grandsons Aaron, age 12 and Jacob, age 6. Ann was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Philip Straub in 1994; and seven siblings, Natalie Faust, Clement Faust, Albert Faust, Michael Faust, Madeline Faust, Helen Faust Kaporch and Dolores Faust Taylor in addition to seven siblings who did not survive early childhood. The Faust Family supported and were members of St. Casimir's Church, originally located in Plymouth, Pa. until its relocation to Lyndwood, Pa. in the mid 1950's. Ann is survived by daughters, Barbara Straub of Cherry Hill, NJ, JoAnn Straub of Linden, NJ and sister, Rita Faust, a resident of Morris Hills Center, Morristown, NJ. Born in Hanover Township, Pa. on February 15, 1927 to Teofil and Anna Bender Faust, Ann graduated from Hanover High School in 1944 and was accepted into the US Army Cadet Nursing program; graduating from Wyoming Valley Hospital School of Nursing in 1947 and continuing her education at Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Ann's career as a Registered Nurse had a long and varied course; including Head Nurse of Labor and Delivery at what is now St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, NJ; private duty and staff nursing in NYC, staff nurse at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, Pa, where she was one of a team of clinicians to open one of the area's first critical care units. Ann also precepted undergraduate nursing students from local colleges and developed and taught a training course for certified nursing assistants. In the 1970's, Ann worked summers as an emergency nurse in the pit area of the Pocono Raceway. After officially retiring in the mid-1980's, Ann continued working both as a visiting nurse monitoring neonates with cardiac monitors and providing private duty nursing care to the elderly. Despite her hard work, love of nursing and caring for others in that capacity; her husband and daughters were at the center of her life. Her wit and fun-loving spirit made for an unconventional yet lively and love filled home life. Ann sought out adventure every day and had a great partner in her husband Joe. They met at Harvey's Lake, Pa. in the late 40's; sustained a five year long distance courtship and married in May of 1954. Married forty years at the time of Joe's death; they shared a special friendship and bond with an enthusiasm for living that attracted friends and family to them and their home. They were often the hosts of planned and impromptu parties often including crazy games and family musical performances by Joe and the "girls". Ann, not quite the singer, was always the best audience and the most vocal supporter of her family's talents. Ann and Joe also shared a compassion for civic duty and social justice. They were active in local politics and were involved in many volunteer groups. They were devoted members of the "International Order of The Alhambra"; an organization devoted to providing assistance, education and residences for persons with developmental disabilities. After devotion to family, Ann was known for her love of travel. She would state often "My bag is packed and I am ready to go!" There were many wonderful trips; Europe with her sisters; Spain, Northern Africa, Hawaii, New Orleans, Myrtle Beach, Florida, Canada, and many more with Joe; London and Paris with her daughters; that filled her passports, photo albums and memories. After Joe's death, she kept busy visiting with friends, traveling and her senior groups. In 1997, Ann welcomed her first grandson, Aaron, into the world. Ann and Aaron were close to inseparable his first two years of life; Ann cared for him while his mom and dad traveled to build their business. When business required the Schlemovitz family to relocate to Basking Ridge, NJ; Ann happily came along. In 2002, her second grandson, Jacob made his grand entrance and Ann, once again, was thrilled to be "Mom-Mom". As she had done with her daughters; Ann contributed to a lively and loving environment for Aaron and Jacob- never missing a school function or event including most recently, Jacob's kindergarten graduation from Saint James School in Basking Ridge, NJ and Aaron's final playoff game at the Basking Ridge Little League. Ann was there for swim meets and baseball games, rides to school and practices. Ann was an accepted and welcome member of her three daughters' circles of friends and colleagues. She attended many of her daughters' work related events and their friends' parties; her witty and warm personality accompanied by an innate ability to engage in conversation and draw out others, made her a desirable and popular guest. While living in Basking Ridge; Ann created a full life for herself. She was a member of The Leisure Club of the Somerset Hills YMCA and the Society of St. Joachim and St Ann at The Church of St. James in Basking Ridge. As often as possible, she attended meetings and participated in trips. Ann was also a welcome guest at the Ridge Oak Senior Center in Basking Ridge and a faithful attendee at their Bunco and Bingo games. It would be difficult to have been in Ann's presence for long and not be drawn to her infectious love of life; laughing at her dry wit, where she often played to her ability to catch folks off guard with her intelligence behind a mask of "ditzy" delivery; her ability to converse with anyone with ease; her eclectic passion for politics, CNN, English Literature, big band music, Jeopardy and "Murder, She Wrote", her unfailing belief in a merciful God and her love of family. Ann was an exceptional mother and grand-mother, a woman of generous spirit and talent, and a kind and faithful friend. Her absence is an unfathomable loss to family and friends, but her hope would be that we remember her with a smile and celebrate life every day in both the ordinary and extraordinary events we encounter and create. Ann's family wishes to recognize and thank her physicians, the caring nursing and allied health staff of Morristown Memorial Hospital especially the exceptional care provided during her recent stay in the ED, CCU and Gagnon "A" unit. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, July 14th at 10 a.m. from the Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Boulevard, Watchung followed by a 11 a.m. Mass of Resurrection at St. James R.C. Church in Basking Ridge. Visitation will be on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Cremation is private. The family will host a reception honoring Ann at the home of Katie Straub and Michael Schlemovitz following the Funeral Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to: The Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills 200 Mt. Airy Road Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 www.visitingnurse.org/donations.htm Morristown Memorial Health Foundation, Inc. PO Box 1956 Morristown, NJ 07962 973-593-2400