Anne (nee Anna Hafichuk) Quathamer
March 10, 1926 ~ January13, 2013
Anne did not awaken from her afternoon nap. Son Jay was with her as he so often was since she became a resident of Crest View Care Village in May 2008.
The second daughter of Mary and William Hafichuk, she was born in Ethelbert, MB where Mary had gone for her confinement at her parents’, Ostap and Dokia Kotyk, homestead. Anne grew up on a farm in the Coteau Hills south of Moose Jaw, SK. She attended the Ranch School finishing Grade 8. Out of school she worked on the family farm, at the family corner store with her sister Olga and in a Chinese restaurant in Moose Jaw. Anne eventually decided to travel and would spend her summers in BC picking fruit, canning fruit, canning fish and working in a biscuit factory. In winter she would return home.
In 1949 she met a nice young fellow at a Vancouver dance hall. Eventually she moved to MacTier, ON and on June 13, 1950 married Turk Quathamer in Sudbury, ON. They settled in MacTier until an unfortunate railway event caused Turk to be laid off for two years. They moved to Sudbury, ON where their daughter, Judy, was born in August 1952. By October 1953 they were back living in MacTier and Jay was born in Parry Sound, ON.
Tired of renting, Turk and Anne built their own home under the Veterans’ Land Act in Humphrey, ON in virgin bush but on the lot next to Humphrey Central School. They moved into their partially finished home a week before Christmas 1958. Following more tree removal Mom had her garden which eventually expanded to about an acre on Sandy Plains Road. Seeds for next year’s planting were purchased with money she earned selling corn and other vegetables to the tourists. The family expanded with the arrival of Jami in 1961 and Jeffrey in 1963. She was awarded an Ontario Volunteer Medal for her volunteer roles in Humphrey Township.
There were biennial visits back to Saskatchewan, always by train since Dad had a CPR pass. After Dad’s retirement in 1983 they travelled all over North America with their truck and 5th wheel. One winter in Florida was enough for Mom. They settled on winters in Yuma, Arizona. In April 1991 on their way back to Ontario they stopped in Creston and bought a log cabin on 16th Ave S.
Mom served as Treasurer of the Swan Valley Good Sam Club for many years. She was an active member of Christ Church Creston. When the days were sunny Anne could be found out in the courtyard with her hat and sunglasses in her wheelchair. She also participated in the CVCV After Dinner Mints band.
Anne is survived by her four children, six grandchildren and one great-grandson: Judy, Alexandra (nee Moore) Lepine (Patrick) and Samuel of Edmonton, AB; Jay (Marsha Plant), Creston, BC; Jami (Barb) Arnprior, ON, Raili at Western University, London, ON; Hanna at Royal Military College, Kingston, ON, and Natalie, at home; and Jeff (Sandra) Parry Sound, ON, Lauren at Georgian College, Barrie, ON and Mitchell at Western University, London, ON. She is also survived by sister Olga Hnylycia, Moose Jaw, SK; brothers: Peter, Ottawa, ON; and Dan (Patricia) Regina, SK; aunt Mable Kotyk, Toronto, ON; and two cousins: Paul Kotyk, Toronto, ON; and Marianna Kotyk (Don Richardson) Toronto, ON plus numerous nieces and nephews and their offspring on the Quathamer side of the family in Saskatchewan.
Anne was predeceased by her husband Thurston Oliver Alerd (Turk) Quathamer; her parents; brother-in-law Joe Hnylycia; uncle Nicholas Kotyk; sisters-in-law Wanda (nee Wert) Hafichuk, Evonne Talbourdet and Nina W. Thomas (Turk’s sisters); and son-in-law Samuel Moore.
To each of us she passed on some of her loves and talents. We have super pie bakers, pyrohy makers, sewers, baby bathers, gardeners, fishers, hockey watchers and players, travellers and sun worshippers in the family, albeit no one got everything or we’d all be awesome just like Annie.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff at CVCV for their care and attention. Nail polish, hairdos, a friendly voice and the odd hand holding are very important when you have limited mobility.
A Memorial Service will be held at Christ Church Anglican, Creston BC at 1100 hrs, January 25, 2013, Reverend Robin Ruder Celiz officiating.
A private family Interment of Ashes will take place later.
In lieu of flowers a memorial donation to the Osteoporosis Society of British Columbia would be appreciated.