September 5, 1927 – December 29, 2024
On December 29, 2024, nearly a century after it began, Anne Chalmers’s life came to a peaceful and happy end.
Anne Oleksyn was born on September 5, 1927, on her parents’ farm near Wakaw, Saskatchewan. Her descriptions of her prairie childhood were idyllic, and included a large, boisterous family, a country schoolhouse, and a barnyard full of animals, most of whom died a natural death, she assured us. Born with a Rider-green thumb, she never tired of getting her hands dirty in a garden.
In 1945 Anne left the farm with her sister, Mary, in search of opportunity and adventure. She found both in Winnipeg. Her formidable skills as a seamstress led to employment in that field, while her appetite for adventure caught the attention of Boyd Chalmers. Their marriage resulted in four lasting achievements: children Lynn, Brad, and Liane, and the business she helped Boyd build, Metal-Pac Manufacturing.
Anne and Boyd’s early days together in a small apartment on Sherbrooke Street eventually gave way to a more comfortable home on Triton Bay. By coincidence, their next-door neighbours on Triton were also named Chalmers, and so began a dearly cherished friendship with Jim and Dorothy and their daughters, Pattie, Barb and Carolyn. Anne devoted these years of her life very contentedly to home, family and friends.
The dissolution of Anne and Boyd’s marriage in mid-life led to some anxious and uncertain times, but Anne persevered and prevailed, emerging as an exceptionally strong, self-reliant and cheerful woman. Although circumstances forced her to return to the paid workforce, she made the most of that opportunity, enjoying a long tenure managing the cafeteria at the Manitoba Clinic.
Anne’s retirement – 32 years’ worth! – provided her with ample time and energy to indulge her varied interests in travel, sports, and community. For many years she traveled often and widely, sometimes with friends and sometimes alone, depending on her mood. She skilfully and enthusiastically curled, golfed and bowled well into old age. She was a hardworking, reliable volunteer, supporting many local groups and charities.
Anne’s retirement also provided her the opportunity to fully realize the role she prized most, as grandmother to Erin, Scott, Ainsley, Owen, Emma and Hazel. She was a generous and frequent babysitter, cheerleader, costume-maker and games-player; the founder of countless feasts, a peerless baker, and a perogy savant. Her final year coincided with the arrival of her first greatgrandchild, Aliviah, whom she promptly rechristened, for reasons never divulged to the rest of us, “Tatiana”. Aliviah’s connection to her greatgrandmother is already evident: she, too, is a great beauty who never shies away from the camera.
From time to time Anne’s life was marked by hardship and loss, but at the end she was grateful and content. It is telling that in their last days both she and her former husband, Boyd, who predeceased her in 1988, spoke of one another tenderly and with fond regard.
We wish to acknowledge the careful and affectionate attention Anne received from staff and friends at the Parkway, and the compassion and competence of innumerable nurses, doctors and attendants who treated her in recent months. Special thanks to her homecare workers, who cheerfully guided Anne through her final years.
She is mourned by her children and their partners: Lynn and Terry Swinn, Brad and Janice Chalmers, Liane and Ted Bock; by her grandchildren and their parenthetical partners: Erin (Rich), Scott, Ainsley (Andrew), Owen (Jenna), Emma (Justin) Hazel; and by the wonderbaby, Aliviah. Kyle Connor and the Jets should also pause and take note, for they have lost one of their oldest and most ardent fans.
At Anne’s request there will be no service to commemorate her life, the unspoken premise being that there is no point in making a fuss over her if she is not present to enjoy the fuss.
In memory of Anne, we encourage readers of this tribute to go and plant something in the ground this spring and watch it grow.
