Anne Burke gave us a full 100 years before passing away peacefully in her home. She lived through the deaths of her beloved husband Abe and 2 of her children, Jeffrey and Sharon, and still managed to find joy in a good bridge game, a walk on a sunny day, and the laughter of her great-grandchildren.

Anne was born in Poland in 1925 and made it to Canada when she was 13 on one of the last boats out before the borders closed – they put her in kindergarten to learn English, which she mastered in a few weeks and never looked back. One of the last things she asked for was a pocket dictionary, and she was very proud to learn the word ‘micturate’ in the last week of her life.

She was so sociable and welcoming, and flourished spending her last decade at The Terraces, making friends and brightening the days of residents and staff.

Her last few weeks were spent with the family she loved, enjoying a never-ending stream of grandchildren and great-grandchildren – she was overheard saying ‘I’m having so much fun, I should die more often’!

 

 

Memorial donations can be made to The Baycrest Foundation Supporting The Terraces