Ann Josephine Owen

Ann Josephine Gross Owen, 78, of Greensboro, North Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family on November 29, 2025, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. Ann will be remembered for her unwavering strength, love of family, and tireless determination.

Born on February 12, 1947, in Harlingen, Texas, Ann was the beloved daughter of Martin William Gross and Beatrice Ivy Gross. Raised in Weslaco, Texas, she attended Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School from kindergarten through eighth grade before graduating with honors from Weslaco High School in 1965. Ann earned a scholarship to Pan American University (now part of the University of Texas system) in Edinburg, Texas, but the course of her life changed when she married and began raising a family, leading her to proudly devote herself to both motherhood and career.

After welcoming two children, Ann began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator. Her talent for leadership and her tenacity quickly propelled her up the corporate ladder-an impressive achievement for a woman in that era. Her career journey took her to AT&T, where she transitioned into information technology, and later to Lucent Technologies. Each new step brought growth and opportunity, eventually leading her to Greensboro, North Carolina, where she later retired. Throughout her career, Ann exemplified resilience, professionalism, and a fierce commitment to providing for her family.

Ann's greatest source of pride was her role as a mother. As a single parent in the early 1970s, she demonstrated immense strength and independence, setting an extraordinary example for her children and grandchildren. Her perseverance and drive to accomplish what needed to be done became cornerstones of her family's values.

Beyond her career and family, Ann found joy in exploring the world. She loved traveling to England to visit her maternal relatives and delighted in taking trips across the United States with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved walking on the beach especially at sunrise. At home in Greensboro, she could often be found cheering at local ice hockey games or participating in coed soccer teams earlier in life. In her later years, one of her favorite activities was going on "movie dates" with her youngest grandson-especially if dinosaurs were on the big screen.

Ann was also a dedicated member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Greensboro, where she participated in the monthly Senior Mass and luncheons with her daughter. Her faith and her church community brought her comfort, friendship, and joy.

Ann is survived by her loving daughter, Dana Lee Owen Kerik; her sisters Shirley Gross Gonzalez and Susan Gross Taylor; and her five cherished grandchildren (Ashleigh, Sarah, Matthew, Christopher, and Joseph) and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Donavon Martin Owen; her parents, Martin and Beatrice Gross; and her sister, Martha Gross.

Ann's family takes comfort in knowing she is finally at peace, reunited with her loved ones who went before her. Though gone from this world, her spirit, wisdom, and fierce love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Momma, knowing you are finally free of pain and at peace eases the sorrow from missing you. I thank God for choosing you to be my mom. You'll always be in my heart. I love you