10/27/2025
Ann Bresler Knox, age 72, of Nicholasville, KY, was born on April 23, 1953, in Owensboro, KY where she was raised. She was the daughter of Paul Martin Bresler and Ann O’Bryan Bresler. On Monday, October 27, 2025, Ann was peacefully lifted to heaven by our gracious God after a life richly lived with compassion and kindness. Ann, aka, Aunt Boo and Gran, was deeply dedicated to her faith and family. Ann graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School where she excelled both academically and theatrically while taking on various class leadership roles. She was named to the National “Who’s Who” among Catholic High School Seniors for her outstanding academic performance. Theater was a passion and it was recognized with numerous honors and awards to include: Medal of Excellence in Drama; 1st place with a “superior” rating in duet competition; and the Most Valuable Emerald Production Member. Her most gratifying performance occurred when she played the female lead role in the high school’s production of “The Heiress”. While one critic sited the school’s production as “near flawless” and “exhibited near-professional acting ability”, he singled out Ann as the one who “carried the performance”. After graduating from OCHS, she pursued her education at Brescia College where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Pathology.
Shortly after completing her undergraduate studies, Ann married the love her life, “Tommy”, and committed to supporting his career and starting a family. This entailed relocating the family to five cities in seven years. After focusing on the early years of her children, Ann was motivated to further her education. In 1986, she pursued and received a master’s degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology from Memphis State University. Soon afterward, she was recognized with numerous awards and certifications to include: The National Distinguished Service Registry for Speech, Language and Hearing as well as being awarded board certification for clinical competence in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. To accomplish this while raising two young children proved inspirational as both of her children, ultimately, pursued advanced degrees, themselves.
While her family and education received great attention, her focus was always on her faith and that ongoing journey. She was a true servant to our Lord, and she lived her faith through her actions. This journey started while at Brescia College with her desire to impact the next generation of Catholics through her work as a Catechist. This work continued for roughly 20 years where she impacted young children across 3 other Parishes. While impacting children was extremely gratifying, she wanted to serve even more. This is when she decided to commit her time and talent to being a member of the Serra Club in Memphis where she supported the Church’s clergy through prayer, encouragement, and fellowship. When she relocated to Northern Kentucky, she realized that it’s Serra Club was made up of all men. This did not discourage her as she was devoted to its mission and became the first woman member. Later her leadership within the group was recognized and acknowledge by being elected the first, and only, woman president for the Northern Kentucky Serra Club. In addition, she was a Eucharistic Minister, Choir member/Cantor, established the welcoming committee at her parish in Northern Kentucky, and initiated a prayer chain for priest in the northern KY Diocese. Her faith journey was impacted most by affecting and nurturing those in need.
With the many accolades and accomplishments, Ann would tell you the proudest of all was being married to her “Tommy” for 50 years, which they just celebrated on September 27 of this year!
Ann is preceded in death by her father Paul Martin Bresler and mother Ann O’Bryan Bresler; Mother-in-Law Jane Dennison Knox and Father-in-Law Richard Landers Knox; and Brother-in-Laws Gerald Lynn Knox, Richard Lynn Knox, and David Callahan.
She is survived by her loving husband Thomas Patrick Knox of Nicholasville; her dear daughter Christina Knox Conley, and husband Carter, of Lexington; her loving son Dr. Michael Landers Knox and wife Meghan of Paducah, and grandchildren Ella Jane Conley, Patrick Carter Conley, Kathryn Rose Conley of Lexington; Henry Landers Knox, Emma Wyatt Knox, and Medley Brooke Knox of Paducah; Sisters Louise Callahan; Christina Jones (Dean); Isabell Ebelhar (Rick); Patricia Bolger (John); May Carol Gipe (Tom); Rebecca Bumm (Barry); Ellen Roberts (Warren); Sister-in-Law Sharon Knox Tucker and husband (Barney), and many beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, and a great-great nephew.
Funeral Services and Mass for Ann Bresler Knox will be conducted at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and Mass will follow at 12:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, we ask you to consider donating to the following charities:
• Capital Campaign: Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary, Lexington, KY
• The Alliance for Catholic Urban Education (ACUE); Catholic Diocese of Northern KY
• Birthright of Memphis
• Bluegrass Care Navigators, Hospice (Lexington, KY)
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