Passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at PeopleCare AR Goudie at the age of 77.
Daughter of Capt. Ronald McDonald and Marcella O’Connor.
Beloved wife of Andy for 56 years.
Loving mother to Kimberley Behnan (Peter Dixon) and Kelley Behnan (Pierre Howard).
Dear Grandma to Tye Dixon.
Dear sister-in-law to Lorraine Behnan.
Anne retired as an Administrative Assistant with the Ontario Veterinary College, and Lifelearn Institute, Guelph. Anne’s family feels they are forever blessed because we knew that God sent us a lover of truth, a person of humility and goodness, a mother of intimacy and passion. We are always reminded that she touched the lives of many in her lifetime journey and that many breathe easier, many more know what passion, love and commitment is – “all because of Annie.”
Anne also taught at Bishop Macdonell for three semesters and coached volleyball. She was an avid gardener, one who spent every season decorating the outside of her home, be it Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or Halloween. She was a sports fanatic who loved her Toronto Maple Leafs and Tye’s Hockey games, her Royal City Slo-Pitch teammates, bowling {a perfect game one night in Rosemere, Quebec}, playing bridge and bathing in the sunshine playing beach volleyball in Cancun and the Dominican. She so enjoyed preparing her Christmas Eve Celebrations with so many. She was so committed and passionate about leading the folk/music group at Mass every Sunday for many years at St. Joseph’s {Mary Phelan parish}.
She was forever blessed to be at AR Goudie home where the entire staff kept asking daily, ”Does Annie ever stop smiling?” - and how she loved music and dancing. In her 27 months with dementia in her long-term care home she was so loved and being the giver she was, the love was always being shared. She walked the talk the same way she taught her family by example daily to “Live, Laugh and Love”. One of Anne’s favorite reflections was, “Perhaps they are not Stars in the sky, but rather openings where our LOVED ONES shine down to let us know they are Happy and Peaceful.” Family, precious friends, neighbours and her Shepherd {she prayed every night} gave Anne and her family the strength and faith to cross the toughest bridges in their lives.
She always believed life was a gift to be shared and now she is at eternal peace. Our family is forever grateful to all who looked after Anne especially in her palliative care at AR Goudie.
Anne's family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener, 519-749-8467.
The funeral liturgy will take place in the chapel of the funeral home on Saturday at 1:00 pm followed by a reception.
Monsignor Dennis Noon officiating.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to Alzheimer Society of Canada along with PeopleCare Communities would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home).
Visit www.henrywalser.com for Anne's memorial.