Ann Staebner Thrall

Ann Staebner Thrall, 85, died at home on April 11th with her family around her, and attended by her wonderful caregiver Margaret. She was born August 2, 1928 in the town of Norwich but was a longtime resident of Franklin. In 1956 she married William Preston Thrall of Rockville, Connecticut (deceased 1967). They had three children, Peter (of Canberra, Australia), Christopher (of Londonderry, New Hampshire) and Melissa (of Franklin, Connecticut) who all survive her. Also surviving are her two grandsons, Alexander and William, her younger brother Ernest Staebner, and her beloved sister Beverly Raymond with whom she talked every day of her life. After graduating from Norwich Free Academy in 1946 she worked for many years as a secretary, first for the Connecticut State 4H Agent and then at Pakulis Farm Equipment from 1967 until she retired in 1993 at the age of 65. But those details don't really say anything about who she was or what she meant to us... Our mother was the centre around which our lives revolved for so many years that it is hard to imagine that she is no longer here. After our father died unexpectedly in 1967 at the age of 44, Mom went back to work full-time to support us as a single parent. Of course, like any children, we made plenty of mistakes along the way but she was never judgmental or demanding, and she never gave up on us. For Mom, there was always another chance to 'get it right', and ultimately we all did. Our successes meant the world to her - our happiness always came before her own and she always went that extra step to ensure that we didn't miss out because we didn't have Dad in our lives. She made sure we learned to downhill ski, sat through years of Little League baseball, took us to car races and dance lessons, and encouraged us to jump over fences on horseback, travel widely, ride motorcycles and even go skydiving. Trying to limit her children simply wasn't part of her vocabulary. Her only wish really (and one she expressed regularly) was for everyone to be happy and get along with each other, and to a large extent we did, even at our sometimes noisy and chaotic Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers. When we did argue, it was mostly about politics or who would get the curly brown bit of meringue on top of the lemon meringue pies she always made for such events. Mom loved having our friends around and welcomed them all into our home - there was always room at the dinner table for whoever happened to drop in, whether it was her special meat loaf with mashed potatoes and peas, hamburgers in the oven or the best rare roast beef anywhere. It was a good place to grow up! Eventually we all left home and found independent lives and partners of our own. Mom became a second mother to each of them as well, particularly Cindy and John. She loved having Cindy, John and Stacy in her life, and was just as proud and supportive of their successes as she was of those of her own children. She was there to celebrate when Cindy graduated from university, helped out when John started his own nursery business and encouraged Stacy to pursue her ambition to start a personalized care business for senior citizens. Mom was a person who really appreciated simple pleasures in life and she didn't want anyone spending a lot of money on her. Some of her favourite things included coffee, Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, UCONN Huskies basketball, fudge stripe cookies, whole belly fried clams, going out to eat for breakfast, the numerous dogs and cats (and the occasional donkey or goat) that wound their way in and out of our family over many years, working in her flower garden and watching the birds, and most of all her two grandsons, Alexander and William. She was so very proud of both of them and loved to tell everyone about what wonderful talented boys they were. Mom - so long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night. We will never forget any of the wonderful ways in which you gave us the space to become the people we are today, or how you cared for us, supported us, worried about us and loved us all unconditionally. Be at peace and know that we will always love you. You are such a special person. Love always, Peter, Cindy & William; Christopher & Stacy; Melissa, John & Alexander