I first met Annie 60 years ago when I was three years old and in tow by my mother over to Annie’s house to
get some sewing done. Gary was five then. He sat on a little black wooden footstool and didn’t budge, though our mothers were pushing us to play together. He was older and didn’t want anything to do with a little 3 year old.
Ironically, a couple of years later, the Krivy’s moved into the house next door to our family’s. We all lived on the top of a small hill on 2nd Street S.W. which was later bulldozed to make way for the Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing.
Gary and I became fast friends and tobogganed an rode our bikes all over the place. It was a sad day for me when the Krivys moved all the way to South Calgary, close to what is today called the Marda Loop area.
However, though it took me forever to get from the Mission District to South Calgary on my bike and up the hills, we managed to stay good friends until we both eventually went away to university.
I spent so much time in the Krivy family home and always marvelled at just how hard Annie worked at her sewing. There were always piles and piles of clothes and pins and zippers and fabrics. One wonders how she kept it all organized, and how she kept up with it all, since she was so in demand for her excellent work.
I wasn’t suprised to learn in her obituary that she worked up to 90 years of age. She had more energy
than anyone I ever met.
I am sure there were days when she could hardly wait for me or for some of Gary’s other friends to go home, but she never showed me anything but kindness and a welcoming spirit.
May she rest in peace always.
