听We are very sad to announce the passing of Anne on February 8th, 2017 at her residence in North Battleford. Anne was born June 9th, 1934 in Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, England. She was survived by her sisters: Susan (Michael) 麻豆视频well and Linda (David) Cartman, in England, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was pre-deceased by her husband Neil, parents, Norman and Alma, step-mother Doreen, sister Freda and brother-in-law Dave. The funeral service was held Wednesday, February 15th, 2017 at St. George鈥檚 Anglican Church, Battleford, SK with Reverend Jan Trost officiating. Urn Bearer was Susan Bernauer. Music ministry by Janice Headley and Lawrie Ward. Shared Memories by Susan Bernauer. Interment to follow at later date.
Shared Memories
鈥淚 came, I did my best, I went.鈥�
Anne said that was all the eulogy she needed. But, we are longwinded and we feel it is important that we share the story of this very special person. Good afternoon everyone, I am Susan Bernauer, Anne鈥檚 godchild, and thank you for gathering today to celebrate her life. Anne Blackett was born June 9, 1934 in Bishop Auckland, Co.Durham, England to Norman and Alma Blackett. She had one sister, Freda, who was three years older. Sadly, when Anne was only nine months old, her mother passed away from tuberculosis. She and Freda lived with her Grandma and Grandpa Blackett for about two years. They then moved back to Ferryhill to live with her aunt Edie and her cousins. Her father eventually remarried a lady named Doreen in July 1945 and the two girls moved to Ripon to reunite with their father and his new wife, when Anne was 11 years old. Norman and Doreen then had two more daughters, Sue and Linda. Anne attended Ripon Girls High School then went straight to Leeds General Infirmary to study to become a registered nurse. In 1955 she completed her training. She then went on to complete her midwifery in 1957. In 1960 she returned to Leeds Maternity Hospital to complete a premature baby course. This is where the two Anne鈥檚 met. Anne Watkins was working as a nursery nurse at Leeds Maternity and upon returning from a short holiday, met Anne. After Anne completed her premature baby course, she took a position at Leeds Maternity and the two Anne鈥檚 became friends, as well as coworkers. The two Anne鈥檚 and their friend Nancy, who was also a nurse, discussed going elsewhere in the world to work. They thought of Australia but it wasn't going to work out. They then saw an ad to apply to come to Saskatchewan. They were warned of Saskatchewan. Even Canadians were asking them why they would go there. They still decided to go, with the intention of working for only a year and moving on. In 1962, when they arrived, even with the warnings, they were still shocked. What did they get themselves into?! Both Anne鈥檚 have great stories of being new to Canada. They quickly learned that even though the people in Saskatchewan spoke English, the terms were certainly not the same in meaning. They learned 鈥渒nock you up in the morning鈥� was sure to get odd looks from the locals. Apparently it didn鈥檛 interpret as 鈥渨e鈥檒l come 鈥榬ound in the morning and knock on your door,鈥� as they had intended. The two Anne鈥檚 worked at Notre Dame Hospital in North Battleford and when the year was nearing an end, they tried applying to move on to British Columbia but it was taking too long. They then decided on New Zealand. In January 1964 they booked passage for the following fall to go to New Zealand. Then Grace Leblanc walked into their life when she came to the hospital for prenatal care. Grace noticed right away that Anne's last name was Blackett. As Grace鈥檚 mother鈥檚 maiden name was Blackett, she was sure they had to be related. Anne wasn't convinced of this. Grace went home and told her mother, Flora Bohse, about this Anne Blackett at the hospital. So Flora sent her son Shurman to town to extend an invitation for a meal. I remember Anne telling me once that she wasn鈥檛 going anywhere alone with a Canuck, because she might end up with a little Canuck! Eventually it was determined that the families were not related. Soon Anne Blackett met Shurman's cousin Neil, and Anne Watkins became Shurman's love interest. There went the New Zealand plans! The Anne鈥檚 had a very unique friendship. Not very many people can brag of a friendship that lasted 57 years! Anne and Neil were married on June 26, 1965. Anne and Shurman had married earlier in the year in England and the two couples celebrated their nuptials together by hosting a barn dance at the Bohse farm. I鈥檓 sure those of you who were there remember it well. Anne remained nursing until the 70鈥檚, working the last few years covering summer holidays. She fell into her role as a farm wife quite well; she pitched in with the work and fed the work crews. Anne wasn鈥檛 against tackling anything and told stories of shooting muskrats with her pump action .22 that her father-in-law had bought her. She always got along well with her mother in law, which must have been a great relief for both women, as they lived in the same yard. Anne and Neil had long time four legged companions, Cooney and Tammy. These animals were spoiled to no end. We have all heard of how loyal dogs are, but in this case the couple was equally loyal to their dogs. Both were more than a pet, they were family. Tammy had her share of health problems and spent time in the 鈥渉ospital.鈥� She had suffered a heart attack. Both Anne and Neil tended to her needs and made sure she always got her heart pills. They often shared stories of their beloved dogs. I remember asking Anne why her dog was named Tammy. This was in the 70鈥檚 when Tammy Wynette was very popular. She replied, 鈥淗er name is Tammy Whynot.鈥� Always a wit, she was. Sadly Anne and Neil could not have children of their own. But she was still able to enjoy being a special Auntie to Anne and Shurman's four children and eventually she became a proud honorary grandmother to Lonny and Marianne Alm鈥檚 two sons Brendan and Lance. She spoke proudly of all her surrogate grandchildren. Anne and Neil spent time traveling, visiting the States and New Zealand as well as places throughout Canada. Anne was mostly fearless and Neil seemed happy to follow along. Anne always had the camera in hand and took many pictures. People knew this sweet couple could be found like clockwork at their frequented locations; Co-op cafeteria, A&W, Country Cuisine and the casino. If you needed to find them you only had to check those locations. Anne also had the same hairdresser for over 30 years, Joan Sten. Once a week, she had her hair done, and Joan even came to do her hair in the hospital and at Harwood. Only Joan knew the way Anne liked her hair. Anne was an avid reader. Her collection of books was more than the average book store. She had her favourites but had a wide variety of tastes. Autobiographies, spiritual topics, historical fiction鈥� all were in Anne鈥檚 collection. She was a history buff and a trivia queen. She liked to play scrabble but trivial pursuit was her all-time favourite. Anne loved to shop for new clothes, her favourites being TanJay and Alia. One of the neatest things about Anne is how she always wanted to keep up with technology. She had computers since before Windows 95, cameras, digital and video cameras; record, cassette and cd players; Betamax, VHS, DVD and Blu-ray, and probably one of the first video games ever made, right up to a PlayStation 2. Apparently, Anne was a gamer at more than just the casino! She was even wanting an iPhone just a few weeks ago. She loved going on Google Earth and finding the places she knew and had been to, particularly her sister Freda鈥檚 in New Zealand. Even though Anne鈥檚 blood relatives were all the way across the pond, she stayed in touch with them. She was very fond of her sister Sue. They spoke on the phone quite often and seemed to have a telepathic connection, one knowing when the other was about to ring. Anne received a lot of post cards from Sue and Josh and she quite enjoyed following them around the world through the post cards. Sue and Josh were here for a visit in 2015 and had hoped to have another visit this summer. Anne was very much looking forward to seeing her dear sister and I am sure it was hard to let go, knowing she would miss that visit. Melissa has so many fond memories with both Anne and Neil, but since Neil passed in August she spent a great deal of time with Anne. Anne often told Melissa how much she appreciated her and often told others "I don't know what I'd do without her." Well now Anne, Melissa wonders what she will do without you. Anne made her laugh almost every day and taught her so much. Every blanket will be a 鈥渃ounterpane,鈥� every smart girl, a 鈥渃anny lass.鈥� Babies, dogs, travelling, technology, casino playing, reading, games, family and friends. Of all the things Anne loved, there was one person she loved more than everything and anyone, and that was her Neil. She missed Neil more than anyone could know and when she passed we know it was from a broken heart. We take comfort in knowing that Anne and Neil are together again.
This is a note that Anne鈥檚 sister Sue emailed to us to share.
Memories of 鈥極ur Anne鈥� from sister Sue
I entered Anne鈥檚 life when I was born in August 1946 when Anne was 12 years old. By then Anne鈥檚 father and new wife Doreen had moved to Ripon in Yorkshire 鈥� nearer to where he worked. So then Anne and her sister Freda were having to share their loving Dad with a new wife and a baby sister! Anne remembered that Freda had always been there to look out and care for her in their early years 鈥� even when Anne would have preferred her not to! They were looked after by Grandma and Grandad Blackett after their Mum died - before they went to Auntie Edie's. They both thought a lot of them. Though Grandma Blackett died when Anne was 3 - she remembered her. Grandad lived longer - not sure how long - but Anne loved him. He had bright blue eyes apparently (we all had brown!). When they lived with Auntie Edie, Anne told me that she thought her children were their brothers and sister! Anne had always been independent and confident. Perhaps Anne appreciated there now being a baby for Freda to fuss over 鈥� instead of her! My memories of Anne at Ripon were of someone who was adventurous and loved playing outdoors 鈥� not with girly toys. She was a bit of a tomboy 鈥� preferring a boys鈥� bike to a girls one! I think she was encouraged by her step鈥搈um, Doreen, who also was a tomboy. My main picture of Anne indoors was of her sitting 鈥� reading next to the coal fire 鈥� as she got older with a ciggy in her other hand! To us children 鈥� my sister Lyn was born 3 years later 鈥� she was always good fun and loved to play and have adventures with us. She was a master at telling stories 鈥� especially to Lyn. She would often make Lyn part of the story 鈥� I think Lyn as a Princess was a recurring one! Years later when my daughter Donna was little she wrote her a special poem 鈥� which Donna has never forgotten! She also enjoyed playing games like monopoly with us. I well remember Anne teaching me how to do crosswords 鈥� I still love doing them. I know Doreen enjoyed playing scrabble with Anne. So it was a sad day for us when Anne sailed for Canada 鈥� but we got caught up in her excitement and followed her adventures with envy. I remember ironing all Anne鈥檚 clothes for her before she left 鈥� whilst she asked me questions helping me revise for my 鈥極鈥� levels. She preferred that job to ironing!! Anne only returned to visit England once in 1975 鈥� a wonderful visit. She had such fun with my children who were 2 and 4. They have lovely memories of that time. She bought them the whole set of Mr. Men books 鈥� now enjoyed by our Grandchildren!! Anne always had fun choosing Christmas presents for Donna and Darren when they were young 鈥� she had an amazing sense of what they would love and some of the toys are now being played with by her Great nephews and nieces!! Anne was always interested to hear about her Great nephews and nieces and spoke on the phone to Caleb. We have all visited Anne and Neil at various times 鈥� Doreen, Donna, Darren and myself and Josh. We鈥檝e always had an amazing time and slotted into Anne鈥檚 life straight away. So nice to meet her good friends and family and especially Neil, who we loved. We had plans to see Anne again this year. Donna especially spent quite a bit of time with Anne and they had a very special relationship. When Donna first visited she caused much interest as she is a vegetarian! Anne would introduce her by saying 鈥楾his is my niece Donna and she is a vegetarian鈥�! Probably not so common in Saskatchewan in the 1980鈥檚! Our thanks go to all of you who have been such loyal and wonderful friends and family to my dear sister. I know how much it meant to her 鈥� she told me! Special thanks to Anne for an amazing nearly 60 years of friendship and to Melissa and her family for their love and care, and to Lonnie and MaryAnn and family who meant so much to her. Bye-bye Anne - you are with Neil again now. We will miss you but our happy memories of what we shared live on! Your loving sister ~ Sue and brother-in-law Josh, Donna and Darren and their families.听
听
I have some thoughts from Anne Bohse that she would like me to read. 鈥淲hen Melissa asked me if I had anymore to add to the eulogy, I said not really, as it had all been said. But I decided I DID want to add something. Anne and I knew each other for 57 years. And in all that time, we always got along well, even when playing scrabble or trivial pursuit! Even then, we usually ended up pretty evenly, within a point or two. We had three big trips鈥攖he first when we came to Canada; the second one along with our friend Nancy Abercrombie, when we went west to the mountains and coast. The third trip was to New Zealand which was the most wonderful experience. Thank you Anne for being such a good friend, I鈥檒l never forget you, rest in peace.鈥澨�
Card of Thanks
Anne鈥檚 family, Bohse and Alm Family would like to thank the following: The nursing staff at BUH for their care of Anne during her times spent in the hospital; Dr. Khurana for his care of Anne over the past years; Harwood Manor, where Anne had lived the past five months; Reverend Jan Trost for the lovely service; Susan Bernauer for delivering the Eulogy; Janice Headley and Lawrie Ward for the music; Milbanke Flowers for the beautiful flower arrangements; all those who sent cards and memorial donations; St. George鈥檚 Anglican ladies who provided the lunch after the service; and finally, many thanks to Trevor Watts and his staff at Eternal Memories, who guided us through this most difficult time.
