Ann Torstrick Groth

Ann Torstrick (Davis) Groth, died peacefully on December 8, 2025, at the age of 74, after a courageous battle with cancer. Ann was born on December 15, 1950, in Louisville to the late Fred and Lillian (Hafendorfer) Torstrick.
Ann was a deeply good human - warm-spirited, kindhearted, and loving. She was a born caregiver with a light that shone brightest in service to others. Ann selflessly and unreservedly gave of herself to her family and friends. In particular, as a single mother, she was a reliable and supportive constant to her children - the type of mother whose utmost priority was quite clear. Proud beyond measure, she would do anything for them, and that love was her greatest gift.
Ann lived a life of service. As a kindergarten teacher, she spent a career guiding little ones through the early stages of life, many of whom would stop her years later to share their gratitude. She was a volunteer extraordinaire - at the Episcopal Church Home, St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, Actors Theatre, Aunt Mary's Storybook, and Paws with Purpose, where she was a weekend puppy trainer.
Ann was a devout Christian who cherished her church community at St. Francis in the Fields. Her faith was her core, and she was honored to be a member of the Daughters of the King, the Tuesday Bible Study, and the Emmaus Community. She also served as an Altar Guild leader, a member of the Quilting Guild, a volunteer receptionist, and the church's wedding coordinator.
Ann grew up in St. Matthews and graduated from Waggener High School (1968) before attending Transylvania University (1972) where she was a proud Chi Omega. She had a decades-long career as an educator and retired from St. Matthews Elementary in 2013.
Ann thrived in retirement, indulging in hobbies, enriching her social life, and traveling well. She enjoyed neighborhood supper clubs, staying in touch with fellow teachers, and spending time with her mahjong ladies (especially during winning streaks). She was a formidable mahjong player - formidable! She loved to travel, especially by cruise ship or motorcycle and always with good friends. She was a beach girl who always considered a trip to the beach the best way to spend a vacation.
Ann was a lifelong lover of dancing and was a regular for years at "the bop club" (Derby City Bop). She enjoyed staying active, be it running, pickleball, Zumba, or power walking. It was not uncommon to see Ann vigorously tackling her 3-mile walking route through Northfield in even the most unsuitable weather.
Ann was a nurturer, and her careful hand extended to the garden where her thumb was green and her summer knees brown from dirt. Her home was filled with African violets, geraniums, and Christmas cacti, the cuttings of which she delighted in sharing. So too did she enjoy needlework, a craft she learned from her mother, which always met its expression as a heartfelt gift to a loved one.
She was soulfully sentimental, known for endearingly preserving even the most seemingly insignificant artifacts. If you ever sent her a note, she cherished it. A ribbon, a card, a newspaper clipping were all little memories she carried with her. They comforted her, helped to tell her story, and were a signature of her tenderhearted sentimentality.
Ann had many dear friends, but her very best friend (and the love of her life) came along in 2021, John Groth. She loved John deeply; he was the partner she had prayed for her entire life. She never smiled so much as when John entered her life. Their shared gaze was a quiet expression of a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Ann and John married in May 2023.
Ann cared deeply about her family and carried a childlike adoration of her parents throughout her life. They were "the best parents any child could ever have." One of the joys in her passing was the knowledge that she would be with Mother and Daddy again soon.
Ann died as she lived, as a caregiver. Her dying wish was that her children, husband, and plants be cared for in a way that echoed her own enduring love.
Ann was predeceased by her beloved parents, Lillian and Fred Torstrick, her four-legged children Molly, Missy, Duchess, Lilly, Cenzie, and Alfie, and her four-legged grandchildren Sammy, Sugar, Jack, Buddy, and Paul. Ann loved all animals but especially dogs (and not especially cats). She would want you to pause on each of those names and recall with her the great joy and companionship her four-legged family brought her.
Ann is survived by her husband, John; her children, Jen (Sys) and Bri (Cam); her brother, Freddie (Debbie); her cousin, Diana (Bob); and her grandchildren, Rhys and Graeme, who blessed her with her favorite title, "Nana."
Visitation will be held at Pearson's Funeral Home (149 Breckenridge Ln) on Friday, December 19, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Visitation will continue at St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church (6710 Wolf Pen Branch Rd) on Saturday at 10:00 am, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am and a reception at 12:00 pm. After the reception, a procession will continue to Cave Hill Cemetery for burial.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made on Ann's behalf to St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ann, please visit our floral store.