Ann Marie Rudy Karinch, 97, of Cornwall Borough, a retired registered nurse, died April 20 after a long battle with congestive heart failure.

Born June 7, 1924, Mrs. Karinch grew up in Cornwall and was a resident of Cornwall her entire life. She was a 1942 graduate of Cornwall High School and immediately entered the nursing school at Good Samaritan in Lebanon. After graduation, she worked as a registered nurse at Good Samaritan, spending most of her career in the operating room. After retirement, she worked periodically as a private duty nurse.

Mrs. Karinch was an active lifetime member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Cornwall. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and British comedies, and loved rooting for the Baltimore Orioles and the football team formerly known as the Washington Redskins. Until shortly before her passing, Mrs. Karinch wrote eloquent and witty notes to family members and friends who saw her as a surrogate mother. She was known for her kind and caring ways. Neighborhood kids would come to "Mom Karinch" when they got hurt and she was always prepared to help a stranger in need with her nursing skills and purse full of band aids.

She married Karl G. Karinch, a Marine Corps veteran of WWII, shortly after the war; he died in 1987. She was also preceded in death by her brother George Rudy and parents Mary A and Michael Rudy, the latter dying tragically when she was just three years old.

Survivors include daughter Maryann Karinch of Estes Park, Colorado and son Karl Karinch of Cornwall who was caregiver for her throughout the final years of her life.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 26th at Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church. 2596 Cornwall Rd., Cornwall, Pa. after which she will be buried next to her husband at Holy Savior Cemetery. A visitation will be held prior to mass from 10:30-11:00 at the church.

Ann Karinch asked that contributions in her name go to Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Arrangements are being handled by Thompson Funeral Home, 126 S. 9th St , Lebanon, Pa. Condolences may be posted at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com