Our beloved Ann Moore, 81, passed away in the hospital surrounded by her family on July 29, 2023. She was born on February 7, 1942, in Alhambra, California. She and her older brother Steve were born to Norman and Margaret "Betty" Spellman. Ann grew up in Beverly Hills and attended Beverly Hills High School where she met the love of her life, Tom, whom she dated all through high school and college. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree and teaching credential from California State Northridge.

Ann's love story with Tom had some twists and turns. She and Tom became separated during college and Ann married somebody else. She had a daughter (Diane) and a son (Rob). In 1999, after her husband divorced her, Tom started looking for her. She had been on his mind all those years. When he found her, he contacted her, and they met at a restaurant. It only took minutes for them to pick up right where they had left off years before. They felt like teenagers as they fell in love all over again. It was less than a year before they got married surrounded by family and friends. Ann had never been happier! She and Tom were inseparable, and they could finish each other's sentences. It was the stuff movies were made from! After Ann retired, they traveled to many places. On one trip, they went to Egypt and rode camels. That became their Christmas card that year. Their stories are endless, and their love is to be envied by all.

Teaching school was a huge part of Ann's life. She found such joy in the connection she had with her students, and she loved imparting knowledge. Her career spanned every grade level including elementary, middle school, high school, and adult school. In the early 80s, while teaching, she went back to college and earned her master's degree in special education. She went on to teach special education at the middle school and high school levels, pouring all her energy into each student in her classes. During her career, she taught in Los Angeles County, San Jose, Huntington Beach, Placentia, and Yorba Linda. Teaching must be in her blood because her mother was a teacher, her daughter was a teacher, her son is a teacher, and her grandson is a teacher. She was very proud of that legacy!

Communication and writing were two things that were quintessentially Ann. She loved to get together with friends and family and have meaningful conversations, hearing about their life and thoughts. She was fiercely loyal, and she made it a point to actively spend time with everybody. If you knew Ann, you never questioned how she felt about you. You knew she loved you and supported you. She was genuine and constant and if you were in her circle, you also had those traits. Ann was born with the ability to express herself beautifully with pen and paper. Her words always formed a beautiful picture of what she wanted to say. She loved to write, and it appeared to be effortless for her. She would pen letters and cards to those she loved, and she also began writing a mystery book which she was sadly unable to finish. For the last couple of years, she taught a writing class called Living Stories at her community clubhouse. She really looked forward to meeting with her group and was so excited for each class. She thoroughly enjoyed reading their stories and having discussions within the group. Sharing ideas was something that invigorated her, and she really connected personally with each participant.

Ann loved to be busy with other people. She joined many clubs and groups. Some of her groups included the American Association of University Women and docent for the Muckenthaler Cultural Center. She especially loved being a part of the Orange County Literary Guild where she served for years as the scholarship chairperson as well as a host for the authors that came to the events. Ann also served as a docent at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral. She loved serving in this way, and it brought her a lot of joy. She always started each day with some quiet time and devotionals. She taught Sunday school throughout her adult life, and she always taught her children the importance of attending church, connecting with others, serving, and accepting the Lord as your personal savior. At the community clubhouse, Ann also belonged to a group called Knit Wits. They knitted and crocheted blankets for young military families. She really loved giving to others, and it was such fun to create these gifts with this group of special women!  Ann also had a fun side. She loved to play cards and belonged to Bridge, Bunco, and Hand and Foot groups. Ann grew up playing cards as a social activity and she built many friendships playing games with others. There was always a bowl of candy on the game table, and it was usually empty by the time somebody had won. She used board games to teach her grandchildren the importance of taking turns, waiting patiently, and being honest/playing fair. Ann was a woman of integrity, and it was important to teach her family this trait. She also taught her grandchildren silly things like how to blow a bubble with gum. They were thrilled and squealed with delight when they finally accomplished this "grown up" feat!  Ann was also a voracious reader! She constantly had a new book she was vested in, loaded on her iPad. She belonged to many book clubs and really liked it when the group dissected the story together. Cooking and baking were two ways that Ann showed love to others. At Christmas time she would bake many varieties of cookies and then carefully arrange an overflowing assortment in baskets to give to family members. She always offered to bring a dish to a gathering and when you visited her, she would have delicious refreshments ready to offer to you. She and Tom also held seats at the performing arts center for years. She loved the Broadway shows and she took each grandchild to at least one special show each year. Ann's calendar always had something on it. She loved to have things to look forward to, yet she was never too busy for those she cared about.

If you ever met Ann, you would say that her smile lit up any room! She had such a happy disposition, and her smile radiated a warm welcome to all she knew. Family was of the utmost importance to Ann, and her memory will be cherished by her beloved husband Tom; her loving children Diane (Bob), and Rob; her stepchildren John (Kristine), and Bill (Leticia); her 14 grandchildren Bobby (Alie), Stephen (Dani), Lauren, Rachel, Michael, Brian, Brooke, Grace, Gavin, Yanni, Finn, Alexandria, Zach, and Grace; her two great-grandchildren Julian and Sage; and her adoring older brother John Stephen.

Services will be held at Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 405 Dale Street, Anaheim, CA 92801. Trisagion at 6pm on Sunday, August 13, 2023, funeral at 10am on Monday, August 14, 2023, with the Makaria (mercy meal) immediately following funeral service. Interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Mary Harmon, owner. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

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Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfunerals.com .

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