Lillian Ann "Ann" Tester

Lillian Ann Tester
December 15, 1938 – September 19, 2025

Ann was born on December 15, 1938 in Sioux City, Iowa and passed away on September 19, 2025. She was born to parents Bill J. and Lillian E. (Leckband) Adams; after her father's passing in 1947, her mother married William R. Boyd, and Ann and her brother Jim took on their stepfather's last name of Boyd. Ann grew up surrounded by her four siblings, and after graduating high school she attended Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, studying to earn her Medical Record Librarian degree. It was while working in that capacity at St. Vincent's Hospital in Iowa City that she met the future love of her life, Richard J. Tester, who was working as an orderly on his way to medical school. Captivated by Ann's beauty and somewhat irreverent sense of humor, Rich suddenly started finding excuses to hang out near the medical records department, garnering sideways glances and whispers from the other staff. The rest, as they say, is history. Ann married Rich at Sioux City's Cathedral of the Epiphany on December 31, 1959. It was negative 14 degrees that day! They lived in Finkbine, near the University of Iowa, until Rich graduated from the medical school there, then grabbed their kids and set out for the West coast, warm weather, and Rich's Internship in Long Beach, California. They lived in Lakewood for a couple of years and added a fourth child to the family before buying their first house in Cypress, which was still known as Dairy Valley at the time. About six years later, they bought their dream house nearer to the coast, in Corona del Mar, where they raised their family and lived for more than 50 years.

During those years Ann was active in her community, demonstrating her capabilities and her faith in many ways. In between her work with her much-loved OLQA Catholic Church parish and school, Casa Teresa home for unwed mothers, the Spyglass Hill Garden Club as a founding member, building and support of the South Coast Repertory, and involvement with the South Coast Philharmonic Society, she somehow managed to squeeze in time for her growing children, cheering at high school basketball games, assisting where she was able with Boy Scout projects, and even chaperoning a group of high school students with Rich on their travels through Europe. She was also a gifted gardener with a flair for design. After her long struggle with Alzheimer's, she is now at peace with our Lord.

Ann was predeceased less than a year ago by her brother Jim. She is survived by three of her siblings, Margie (Boyd) Hinrichsen of Missouri, William Boyd of Nebraska, and Susan Boyd of Iowa; by her beloved husband, Rich, who was always there for her during the best and worst of times, and by her four children, Richard Tester of Irvine, CA, Lisa McIntyre (Steve) of Trabuco Canyon, CA, Dr. Patrick Tester (Donna) of Wilmington, N. Carolina, and Elizabeth Norton (Scott) of Redwood Shores, CA, as well as eight grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be sent to the Alzheimer's Association.