Madeleine Marie (Desaulniers) Anderson
May 22, 1924 ~ May 17, 2012
It is with great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Madeleine Marie (Desaulniers) Anderson on May 17, 2012 in Duncan BC, 5 days short of her 88th birthday.
Madeleine Marie Desaulniers was born in Lafond AB, May 22, 1924, fourth in a family of ten. Unfortunately their mother died giving birth to twin boys, leaving ten children without a mother. Needless to say, the older children looked after the younger children, helping to raise the family.
Madeleine joined the Air Force when she was 19 years old, and spent those war years at the Coast and on Vancouver Island. She lived most of her life in the Cariboo country, Prince George and Okanagan areas. She worked for Canada Post for many years, was involved in the Women's Institute, Toastmistress club, Sons of Norway club, raced her own snowmobile, loved golfing, even managing a hole in one, and spent many happy hours camping with her family. She was very active, social and had a friendly, outgoing personality. Madeleine's favourite times were the winters spent in Arizona after retirement, family gatherings and having fun with her grandchildren, who called her "Groovy Gran". She was a caring and generous grandmother, even treating her grandchildren to a trip to Disneyland many years ago.
Madeleine and her husband Colonel, lived in Creston for three years where her two daughters had retired. She could be seen walking daily in her neighbourhood and the downtown area chatting with those who took the time.
She stayed very fit with regular walking, which enabled her to complete the West Creston Blue Heron Half Marathon l0 km walk two years in a row at 83 and 84 years old. She managed to jog in over the finish line, giving a good showing for those in her 60 plus age class, and she received a medal both years.
Madeleine is survived by her husband of 61 years Colonel Anderson; daughters Marge Kennedy (Michael) and Geraldine Lee (Grant), of Creston; son Robert Anderson (Suzanne) of Duncan; 5 grandchildren, Lisa, Dwayne, Christopher, Dawn and Kenneth; 8 great-grandchildren; three brothers (81 and 78 -twins) and one sister who will be 90 this summer.
A Celebration of Madeleine's Life will be held at a later date in Duncan.
We will miss her greatly but it was time to let her go.