Obituary of Anne Wannamaker

December 15, 2023 (89)

Anne was the second youngest in a family that included nine siblings. The first six children were born in their parents' native country of Poland, with Anne and three other children born in Canada. Anne came into the world in rural Alberta and grew up on the family farm in the hamlet of Tomahawk. She arrived two months premature and had to be kept warm in a box by the kitchen stove for the first months of her life.

Anne's early years were fairly typical of a homesteading life of that time. She walked to a one room schoolhouse with her older brothers and sisters, a distance of several miles. When her youngest sister was ready to start learning, her father decided that the children should have a trap and pony to convey them. Unfortunately, this arrangement did not last long, as the school burned down when Anne was a young teen. Anne's parents remained on the farm in Tomahawk but rented a house in Entwistle, 40 kilometers away, so that the children could continue their education. While in Entwistle, the children had to look after themselves, not an ideal situation but the best option available. Anne had to relocate to Edmonton to finish her high school certificate. Anne babysat and cleaned house for the Edmonton family who provided her with room and board during her high school years. The hoops that she had to jump through to finish her education taught her self-reliance and resilience.

Anne grew up watching her older sisters take music lessons on the family pipe organ. Although she never had formal training, if Anne knew a song, she could play it. In addition to the keyboard, Anne also taught herself to play guitar. She was, by nature, an early riser - a trait not shared by her husband and children. When she became exasperated with the fact that her family members were still in bed, Anne would go to the piano and bang out the liveliest songs she knew. It was impossible to sleep through. Most of the time, though, her family loved to hear her play.

After graduating high school, Anne followed two of her siblings to Yellowknife, where she worked as a bank teller. She met her husband James Wannamaker in Yellowknife, and the two were married on October 1, 1954. Anne and Jim spent their first few years together in the Northwest Territories, first in Yellowknife and later in Fort Smith, where Jim worked as a bush pilot and later, as a carpenter. Both Anne and Jim obtained one year teaching certificates followed by full degrees from the University of Calgary. Not wanting to go into debt, they would teach for a year in a remote community before returning to Calgary for another year of education. This extended process of getting their credentials took almost a decade. 

After graduating from the University of Calgary, Anne spent 30 years teaching elementary school in various locations. Her longest-lasting job was on the Stoney Nakoda First Nations Reserve at Morley. For many years after her retirement, Anne would return to the reserve school for the year-end concert in order to see the progress of the boys and girls that she had taught in kindergarten. She counted her time at Morley as the most rewarding of her career.

In later years, Anne and her husband Jim bought and renovated a derelict 30-unit apartment building in downtown Calgary. The couple provided short term accommodation, renting furnished apartments with dishes and linens to people doing contract work in the city. Finding furnishings for the suites, Anne was able to indulge her lifelong passion for thrift store shopping, Anne was an avid berry-picker. She preferred fruit that was not commercially available - crab apples, chokecherries, saskatoons, huckleberries, and especially lowbush cranberries. There was a certain amount of risk in picking cranberries, as her preferred berry patches were in cougar/bear country. Convinced that she would not be attacked if she looked aggressive enough, Anne kept a scary mask in the car which she would tie to the back of her head while she was picking, the theory being that a cougar would be most likely to approach her from the rear. Her family is very grateful that this defense was never put to the test. 

Pretty, charming, and energetic, Anne always made people feel welcome with a home-cooked meal. Despite her hectic schedule, the notion that she could save time by ordering "take-out" or purchasing prepared food for her guests was never entertained. Many will remember Anne for her mischievous sense of humor, her passion for politics, her gracious hospitality and for being ahead of her time in feminism and equality beliefs. 

Anne spent the best years of her retirement tending to her amazing flower garden, and drinking wine with her neighbor of 40 years, Wanda Piatelli. When dementia made it impossible for her to remain at home, Anne was cared for by the kind staff at Carewest Sarcee. 

Anne is survived by her husband James Wannamaker; sisters, Betty Assaf and Julie Russell; children, Cynthia Wannamaker and Judi Wannamaker (William Bortoluzzi); granddaughter Charlee Bortoluzzi; and her grandchildren-in-spirit, Koryn and Jayden Piatelli; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. As per her wish, Anne's body was cremated. 

A Celebration of her life will be announced at a later date, likely in the spring. Please reach out to the family, if you would like to be included in this special event to honour Anne's life. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Deceased first name’s family here.

If friends so desire, please consider a donation in memory of Anne to Calgary Folk Dance, http://calgaryfolkdance.ca/ or to the Protect Alberta Water and Rocky Mountains, https://protectalbertawater.ca/

In living memory of Anne Wannamaker, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.