Ann T. Haimburger

Ann T. Haimburger, 82, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Friday, January 9, 2026. A native of New York City, she was the beloved daughter of the late Michael Chepiga and Frances Karasek Chepiga.

As a young girl, Ann faced several health challenges, which she courageously overcame, including surviving breast cancer in her 30s. She graduated with honors from St. Vincent Ferrer High School and soon entered the workforce, where she notably served as an assistant to the owner of the New York Giants football team.

After marrying the love of her life, Rudolph "Peppy" Haimburger, Sr., Ann relocated to Virginia Beach to be near her sister, Frances Loch, and her growing family. Ann devoted many years to being a homemaker, lovingly caring for her daughter, Ann ("Annie"), and her son, Rudy. In 1980, she returned to the workforce and became an administrative assistant at National Cash Register (NCR). She earned her Associate's Degree in Telecommunications from Tidewater Community College in 1987. After being downsized from NCR in 1994, Ann joined the newly established national headquarters of Avis Car Rental in Virginia Beach in 1996.

Ann eventually moved into the Accounts Research Department at Avis-a role she truly loved. She delighted in the investigative nature of the work and would often come home with stories about tracing large, mysterious checks sent to the company without identifying information. She thrived on the detective work and took great pride in her contributions.

One of Ann's favorite hobbies was bowling, which proved especially meaningful, as she met her husband through their New York City bowling league. After marriage and children, Ann was an exceptional wife and mother who loved her family above all else. She showed her devotion in countless ways-preparing homemade meals daily, baking, sewing doll clothes for Annie, serving as a Den Mother for Rudy's Cub Scout troop, cheering at softball and baseball games, and later babysitting her grandsons-no matter how busy she was with work.

Ann was a joyful and happy person who always had a smile on her face, even during the last six years of her journey with dementia. A devout Catholic, she embodied a true spirit of charity and loved helping others, especially her family. Rudy, Jr. and Frances took her to Mass as often as her condition allowed, and when she was unable to attend in person, she faithfully watched services at home with one of her loving caregivers. Just one week before her passing, she spontaneously responded "Amen!" after the priest's final blessing during a televised Mass!

Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Rudolph Haimburger, Sr., and by her parents, whom she deeply adored. She is survived by her sister, Frances Loch; brothers Michael Chepiga (Pamela) and Stephen Chepiga (Maureen); daughter Ann Colorado (Alek); son Rudolph Haimburger, Jr.; grandchildren Griffin Colorado (Carolyn), Garrick Colorado (Denise), and Julian Colorado; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Annie and Rudy extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who loved and cared for Ann throughout the years, including our aunt and uncles; her physician, Dr. Matthew Balderston; and her extraordinary caregivers-Nori, Marilou, Flora, Liza, Jeannine, and Romona. Our mother loved you all dearly, and so do we.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 5345 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Inurnment will take place at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Norfolk at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (aftd.org) to support FTD research and education, or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (bcrf.org) to support breast cancer research in honor of Ann's resilience and life, or to a charity of your choice.