Anna Thear

On April 7, 2021 Anna Thear, retired Public Health Nurse in Montgomery County, MD passed away at home in Brookeville, MD. She was 91 years old. Devoted wife for 58 years of Thomas Thear, who pre-deceased her in 2012. Ann was born in Pennsylvania where she received her Nursing Degree. She moved with her husband to Rockville, MD in 1953, working at a hospital in DC before becoming a Public Health Nurse in 1955 for 25 years, a job she loved and was very passionate about until retirement. During her time as a Public Health Nurse, Anna received the very rarely granted “exceptional service award” in 1966 for her courageous conduct in removing several children from their burning home while performing her duties during a visit. She single-handedly carried a 90lb paraplegic from the burning home. Our mother was the perpetual “energizer bunny” and most found themselves trying to keep up with her continuous energy. She was a loving and caring wife and mom and caregiver to her parents and in-laws. In addition to her passion for being a full-time nurse, she was known for wonderful cooking of memorable home cooked meals and Christmas specialties, making Halloween costumes. entertaining their friends and most important of all, supporting and caring for her husband and family all these years. Ann’s favorite place was walking along the beach collecting seashells and enjoying the sand and sun with her family. Ann and her husband were one of the original founders of their church Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in DC and then Potomac, MD, the church, and her faith being an integral part of her life. She was an ardent supporter and active member of her church volunteering her time and skills until she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She will be sorely missed by all and our hearts are breaking, but the memories will continue to make us smile. She is survived by her three daughters and their spouses, Greg and Debra Yakubik, Chrysa Thear, and Craig and Taina Ferguson: six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Eleanor Polanichka of Pennsylvania. The family would also like to thank the wonderful caregivers that have taken such outstanding care of her during the past 11 years after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. We can never thank you enough for the care and compassion you have shown her, our father, and the family. May your lives continued to be blessed with continued love and compassion. The family will receive family and friends that feel comfortable following social distancing and mask guidelines from 4 to 7pm on Sunday April 11, 2021 at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 10201 Democracy Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 12, at 10:00 am, with a viewing at 9:30 am at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Potomac, Maryland. Final services and internment will be held on Tuesday, April 13, at 11 a.m. with a viewing at 10 a.m. at St. John’s Orthodox Church and St. John’s cemetery in Nesquehoning, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. You may send flowers to DeVol Funeral Home, 10 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.