K. Ann Johnson (nee Wieler) passed away with her husband at her side in the early morning of their 59th anniversary on January 6, 2012, after a week long reunion with her children at her bedside.
Born in 1930 in Winnipeg, she was the 3rd youngest of six children. She and her younger sister Helen came out to BC at age 18. At age 23, Mom married Dad and they lived in Invermere where their first two children were born. Three more children came in their 13 years in Gibsons before they moved to Prince George, and then to their dream destination of Kamloops in 1973.
Mom had a gift for music and played songs on the piano, guitar and accordion by ear. She was also an artist at heart and used her creativity to produce, direct and film cable TV shows for Bishop Sabatini in the 80’s. As a volunteer for Channel 9, she operated the cameras for bowling tournaments, especially if Dad was in them. She loved photography and won awards at the PNE in 1990. She enjoyed watercolor and oil painting and studied with artists that she admired.
Although she struggled with Alzheimers for the last 16 years, she never lost her joy of music or her smile for her family. She had a stroke that took away her short term memory in 2004 and other difficulties resulted. Mom’s absence from O.L.P.H. mass was noticed this past week as she never missed weekly mass with Dad.
Our mom is predeceased by her parents, siblings and dad’s siblings.
She is survived by her devoted husband Chris, her son Raymond (Bertha), daughters: Valerie (David), Patricia (Sean), Lorraine and Theresa (Don), plus 11 grandsons and 4 granddaughters.
We would like to thank Linda Bonner-Brown for being a kind friend, Dr. Mavis Hollman for her dedication and help, and the staff and volunteers at the Hospice who made Mom and our family so comfortable during her final days.
Prayers will be offered at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, 635 Tranquille Road, where the Reverend Father Peter Nguyen will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice at 72 Whiteshield Cres. S. Kamloops, BC V2E 2S9
Service arrangements entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service, Telephone 250-374-1454.