Ann Margaret Van Doren, of The Villages, FL, born in Syracuse, NY on September 17, 1932, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2018 at the age of 86 at Elan Spanish Springs, Lady Lake, Florida. Her beloved husband of 62 years, Lyman Van Doren was at her side and holding her hand. The daughter of the late Michael Egan and Mary Ellen Egan, Ann was a resident of The Villages where she had lived since 1994.
Ann attended Blessed Sacrament School and was a graduate of St Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing. Ann started her career as a nurse in Syracuse, New York. She met her future husband, Lyman through a mutual friend. Ann loved her life as a homemaker, and when her children were older, she returned to work for Webster Public Schools working as a school nurse and cafeteria staff.
Upon retiring from Webster Schools, she and her husband, Lyman (Van) retired and moved to The Villages where she enjoyed golfing, shopping, traveling, cooking, swimming, cards, square dancing, and new friendships. She was active with her church, St. Timothy Catholic Church in The Villages. Ann especially loved time with the family when she and Van hosted family reunions for her children and grandchildren in the Poconos, Williamsburg, Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, and The Villages.
Ann had a passion and a talent for cooking and baking. She was a five-time Pillsbury Bake-Off winner and was sent to Boston and San Francisco to compete. Some of her specialties were breads and desserts. She was well known for her creative birthday cakes.
She leaves behind her beloved husband, Lyman Van Doren of Lady Lake, FL, daughter, Julia Mullins and husband, Robert Mullins of Houston, TX, son, Edward Van Doren and wife, Carol Van Doren, of Andover, MA, son, Brian Van Doren, of Pasadena, MD, son, Paul Van Doren, of Glen Burnie, MD, son, David Van Doren, of Lady Lake, FL. She also leaves her grandchildren, Christopher Van Doren, Kristine Mullins Riggs (husband, Adam Riggs), Molly Van Doren, Benjamin Van Doren, Kelley Mullins, and Kenneth Van Doren. She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Sheila Egan and Shirley Valerio, and nieces and a nephew. Ann was also sister to the late Mary Haines (husband, Lloyd Haines) and Paul Egan. Ann was mother to the late Keith Van Doren.
A visitation will be held at Beyers Funeral Home, 134 N US Highway 441, Lady Lake, FL 32159. on Thursday, Sept. 27, from 5 – 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Timothy Catholic Church, Friday, Sept. 28, at 8:30 a.m. Interment will be at 11 a.m. at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell following the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Ann’s memory to St. Timothy Catholic Church, 1351 Paige Place, Lady Lake, FL 32159 or the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org; 1-800-272-3900; or mail: Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.
