Honoring the Memory
of Those
We Love

Ann Thompson, age 89, passed peacefully in her home surrounded by her loved ones on Monday, March 2, 2026, of Pittsburgh.

Devoted wife of John Thompson; daughter of the late John and Margaret Gastan; sister of Millie Gastan; aunt of Lynn (Glenn) Migliozzi; great-aunt of Cara (Michael) Leonardo, Matt (Raleigh) Migliozzi and Grace Migliozzi; great-great-aunt of Max Leonardo, Henry Leonardo and John "JJ" Migliozzi.

Ann (Gastan) Thompson was born in Slovakia on July 29, 1936. Fearing the coming war in Europe, Margaret Gastan and her infant daughter Ann sailed across the Atlantic in 1937 to be reunited with Ann's father, John, who had gone ahead to Pennsylvania to find work. They settled into their new home in the vibrant Slovak community in the South Side of Pittsburgh. Ann’s sister, Millie, was later born in 1939, completing the family. The Gastan girls grew up on Magdalene Street in a tightly knit community centered around St. Matthew’s parish. They were raised in a home filled with love, laughter, music, and Margaret’s delicious Slovak home cooking. After high school, Ann entered nursing school and won numerous awards for her outstanding academic performance. She joined the nursing staff at South Side Hospital where she worked for over 40 years, rising to the role of head nurse on her floor. It was there that Ann met her husband John in the late 1960s while he was visiting a friend. Ann soon married John, and they embarked on a lifelong happy union together. Though never blessed with children, they shared their beloved sheepdog, Fritzie, who brought endless joy to their lives. Ann was an avid reader, gardener, puzzle solver and was known to take daily long walks in the neighborhood. After her retirement, Ann continued to use her nursing skills, helping neighbors whenever they were in need of medical support, whether it was changing their dressings after surgery or helping with injections. Ann’s gentle, caring presence will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Rest easy, dear Annie. We will love you and miss you always.

Arrangements were handled privately through the John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc., 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood 15227. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date.