Death notice of Ann Donovan (1943 – 2021) – Crozet, Virginie

Ann Lybarger Donovan, 77, of Crozet, Virginia, died on Friday August 27, 2021. Ann was born on November 19, 1943 in New Hartford, New York, to Herman and Fern (Miller) Lybarger. She grew up in Brockport, NY and attended SUNY Albany where she graduated with a BA in Spanish and French. While studying at Albany, she took advantage of a semester abroad as an exchange student with a large family in France. Over the years, she has shared fun stories with her students and family about how children teased her as she tried to become fluent in their language and adjust to a new cuisine. She returned the favor by later welcoming exchange students to her family’s home, which was a great experience for her children.

In Albany, she met the love of her life, Jim, her husband of 53 years, with whom she raised two daughters. She and Jim loved to travel and they enjoyed many trips to Europe both as a couple and with friends. Ann was a teacher of French and Spanish and spent most of her career at Toms River High School North in New Jersey, where she taught (mainly French) for 25 years. She also obtained her master’s degree during this time. Ann ran the high school French club and took her students on school trips to France several times over the years. She was a dedicated and passionate teacher who touched the lives of hundreds of students. She also made many lifelong friends with fellow teachers and staff at HS North.

After retiring, she and Jim moved to Crozet, Virginia, where they built their dream home with magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is where their beloved Molly, the stray dog ​​who adopted them, came into their lives. Ann has always had a soft spot for stray animals and animals in need of help and has generously contributed to their local animal shelter for years. They also owned a log cabin on Loon Lake in Rangeley, Maine, where they enjoyed spending the summer months.

In recent years, Ann enjoyed feeding her backyard birds, reading, bowling, and doing puzzles. Her love for travel and other cultures was reflected in her favorite hobby, stamp collecting, and she amassed an impressive collection filling several shelves. She loved to play games, especially cards, with her daughters, grandchildren and friends.

Ann was a very generous person with a great personality and a sense of humor. She was generous with praise and always made her daughters so proud. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Ann was predeceased by her husband, Jim. Ann is survived by her daughters, Sherri (David) Roberto and Laurri (Glenn) Diener; five grandchildren, Christopher, Sarah and Kaitlyn Diener and Jimmy and Laura Roberto; and her brother, David (Debbie) Lybarger.

A Catholic Memorial Mass will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 17, 2021, at Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, Crozet Baptist Church in Crozet, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the Charlottesville Albermarle SPCA.