The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is saddened to announce the death of Ann Thayer, wife of The Rev. Fred Thayer, a longtime priest in our diocese. Ann was married to the Rev. Fred Thayer for 46 years.
Ann’s ministry stretched across decades and impacted many at St. Bartholomew’s in Poway and St. Francis in Pauma Valley. While in San Diego, she was President of North County Wool Gatherers, a rug hooking group whose members design and craft rugs. For 21 summers, she was an active volunteer at the Nantucket Cottage Hospital Thrift Shop, also serving as assistant manager before moving to San Diego. In the 1970s, she was a reporter/writer for The Link, the newsletter of the Center for Environmental Information in Rochester, New York and taught Sunday School at the Church of the Epiphany, Rochester. In the 1980s, Ann was assistant to the Director of the Sea Cliff Public Library on Long Island, New York. In the latter 1980s and 1990s, Ann was an administrative staffer in the New York Public Library retail division and was the administrator for New York Jewelry Designer Helen Woodhull. She also served on the board of Episcopal Community Services of Long Island. In the early 2000s, Ann served as an organizer and cooked for senior events at Calvary Episcopal Church, Columbia, Missouri. At St. Bartholomew’s, Poway (2006-2013), Ann was a Thrift Shop volunteer. At St. Francis, Pauma Valley (2017-2019), Ann co-organized the food ministry. For years, Ann’s daily activities included walking two or three miles and completing the New York Times crossword puzzle in ink.
Ann was raised in Western Massachusetts. She graduated from Skidmore College in 1972 with a double major: Biology and English. She received an M.S. in Environmental Biology from Northeastern University in 1975. Her friends in Massachusetts, Long Island, Missouri, and San Diego knew her as generous, caring, faithful and funny, and an excellent cook. She leaves the Rev. Fred Thayer. Ann’s funeral and burial will be at St. Francis, Pauma Valley on May 1 at 2:00 PM with limited attendance due to COVID precautions.
