Obituary of Ernest "Ernie" Anastasiou

June 20, 1925 – Winnipeg, Alberta

April 5, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

 

With heartfelt sadness, we announce the passing of Ernie Anastasiou on Friday, April 5, 2024, at the age of 98 years.

 

Ernie was born in Winnipeg, MB, but grew up in Victoria, BC. When Ernie was in high school, he joined the Air Cadets which started his passion for flying. He quit high school at seventeen to work in the shipyards, building a frigate for the navy. When he turned eighteen in June of 1943, Ernie promptly enlisted in the RCAF. He was interested in being a pilot, but they were in need of navigators at the time, so that’s what he trained for. In 1945 when the war ended, he finished high school and earned a degree in Commerce from UBC in 1949. His long career with the Hudson’s Bay Company took him from Victoria to Saskatoon and eventually to Calgary. Ernie married Claire Hannah in 1955 and they made Calgary their home.

 

Ernie was passionate about many things throughout his life, the number one being Claire and his family. He was an avid tennis player and then a golfer in his 70’s. He loved gardening, travel, playing cards, trivia, cooking, and the Blue Jays. Ernie was dedicated to the Aircrew Association in Calgary and served as the president for many years. Later in life, he loved going to the elementary schools and talking to the children on Remembrance Day. He could recite the poem High Flight from memory at the age of 98. Later in life he was passionate about investing and managing his portfolio. Whatever he pursued, he did so with passion, optimism, and a sense of humour.

 

Ernie is lovingly remembered and mourned by his daughters Sandra (Brian) McLachlan and Victoria Tapics; grandchildren, Tanya, Kyle (Heidi), Kristy (James), and Brady (Rachel). He was especially proud of his great-grandchildren, Piper, Dallas, Jessie, Jade, Clara, and Colton. Ernie is also survived by his sisters Vivian (Bill) Bell and Mary Masters; sister-in-law Joan Anastasiou, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his good friends John Tapics, Henk and Lenneke Ter Keurs, and Mike Mears.

 

Ernie was predeceased by his beloved wife Claire, his parents Lydia and John Anastasiou, his sister Violet Berrisford, his brother Clifford (Kip) Anastasiou, and his brothers-in-law, Jack Berrisford and Henry Masters.

 

Many thanks to the dedicated staff at Aspira (Amica) Britannia, who cared for Ernie with compassion and kindness for over five years. Also, many thanks to the AHS Home Care team that added valuable support for him during the last three months.

 

A Celebration of Ernie’s Life will be held at a later date.

 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Calgary Branches Poppy Fund, 2020 – 15th Street NW, Calgary, AB T2M 3N8, Telephone: 403-265-6304, https://calgarypoppyfund.com/, the Veterans Food Bank of Alberta, #114 - 4303 26 Street NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 7K2 Telephone: 403-277-8387,  https://veteransfoodbankalberta.ca/donate, or to The Hangar Flight Museum, 4629 McCall Way NE, Calgary AB T2E 8A5, Telephone: 403-250-3752, https://thehangarmuseum.ca/donate-now.

 

 

High Flight

John G. Magee, Jr.

 

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air…

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or ever eagle flew –

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

 

 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Ernie’s family here.

 

In living memory of Ernest Anastasiou, 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.