Obituary of ANNE ELIZABETH GRAHAM

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother and grandmother Anne Graham (Annie Elizabeth Withams), age 92 on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Selkirk Regional Health Centre. Lovingly remembered by her daughter Kelly Graham-Miele, son-in-law Steve Miele, grandchildren Leanne and Landen, son Bill Graham, niece Ellen Boddy (Barry), nephew John Witham and their families. Anne is predeceased by her youngest son Kent, father Walter Withams, mother Ellen (Hull), stepmother Evelyn (Newnham), brother Tom Witham and his wife Elaine (Heidel).

Anne was born on September 19, 1932, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan to Ellen and Walter Withams and raised on their family Dairy Farm. From an early age she developed a genuine love of animals and made them her pets. She enjoyed attending farming exhibitions and proudly showed their dairy cattle and her horses which won distinctive prizes and awards. In later years, on special occasions she delighted going to the racetrack and her love of horses she shared with her son and then with her granddaughter, whom she spent many hours playing Vet Barbie and Ferrier with toy horses. Anne was also very devoted to her pet beagles and this passion has continued through to her grandchildren's love of their own two beagle dogs.

Education was important to Anne who was both a very bright and keen student. She fondly recalled her education with the Nuns at the “Convent of the Child Jesus” in North Battleford where she learned Latin, played piano, sang in the choir, and was involved in the church community. The Nuns were also a great support and comfort to her when she lost her mom while still in high school.

After graduation, Anne attended business college and began working as an office assistant for an ENT Specialist in North Battleford. A few years later, she married and moved to Winnipeg where she started her family. Anne returned to work in the medical field primarily in Ophthalmology and Optometry to support and raise her three children following her divorce. Over the course of a 30-year career, her role expanded to include bookkeeping, eye glass and contact lens fitting, through to assisting with optometric services in rural and northern communities in Manitoba.

Anne delighted in her most significant role when she officially became known as "Granny" taking care of her grandchildren when her daughter returned to work after their birth. It was during this time that she began her second career as an evening greeter at Superstore and was well known in Garden City area for her bright smile and friendly nature. Although she never drove, she remained continually active and independent by walking everywhere including to her work, until she officially retired at 78 years old.

Anne began her day with a cup of coffee, reading the daily newspaper cover to cover, completing crosswords, and was always up to date on current world events. She especially loved reading the sports section and knew both player and team statistics enabling her to seamlessly assume the roles of both mother and father to her children. Granny often would listen to a hockey game while simultaneously watching football on television. She was a true Roughriders fan who shared her passion and enthusiasm with her grandson who proudly wore Saskatchewan team clothing and green dyed hair.

For many years, Anne was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and shared their philosophies of friendship, enrichment, and lifelong learning with her family. Her appreciation of art combined with her gifted artistic talent she passed on to her daughter when teaching her to draw and paint. Anne was also an avid reader, who usually completed a new book within a day or two, especially crime detective novels. She will be lovingly remembered as a kind, compassionate person with a very generous nature, who gave so much of herself to help others.

An "Evening Celebration of Life Service" will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street, Winnipeg.

In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honour Anne’s memory may consider donating to Never Alone Cancer Foundation, CancerCare Manitoba, Ronald McDonald House or a charity of their choice.