If I had to summarize Anna with a quote, it would be this famous one by Maya Angelou: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Reading all the messages on social media and talking to people who knew her, Anna always made people feel warm, welcome, and cared for.

I met Anna in June 2018 at a group hike with a community of moms looking to get outside more often. I remember feeling nervous, but as soon as her and I started talking, I knew I found my person. Our friendship started with an outdoor adventure and continued to be built on more outdoor adventures. Some of our favourite activities to do together was neighborhood walks, hikes, late afternoon paddles on Ghost lake, biking with our kids, ski days at Nakiska, and camping. My favourite memory of her was a weekend in Canmore with our boys. It was a beautiful fall that year, and the weekend was perfect. We hiked, took the boys to the pump track, had sushi for dinner and watched the great British baking show.

Anna had this quiet way of making you feel right at home with her warmth and humour. She always went out of her way for everyone, strangers and friends alike. Her choice of career was a perfect reflection of that. She was funny and mischievous, and loved a good prank. She was so thoughtful and considerate. She would drop everything, even if you asked her to come with you to a middle school band performance, containing lots of brass instruments I might add, on a random weeknight. She went to every ringette game, every piano recital, every ultra marathon, every field trip… if she was needed, she was there.

It’s hard to imagine life without Anna, but her kindness, her warmth, and her adventurous spirit will stay with all of us. She truly was the type of person who made the world better just by being in it.

I miss you my friend, I was so lucky to have you…

It has been the saddest, tough week for me as I was trying to process the sudden and so much unexpected passing of my dear friend Anna.

I remember how she welcomed me with her most beautiful, radiant smile and warmth when we first met. She was a true angel amongst us on this earth, as she lived her days by generously giving herself through acts of love, care, compassion, and presence.

I admired Anna for her positive outlook on life, for her wisdom and words of encouragement I was blessed to receive from her. She opened her home at the most challenging time of my life and was a good friend I needed.

Our friendship was short, just over a year.... but it was the most precious one, which I will cherish throughout my life, until the day we meet again...

I am grateful beyond words I can express for having you in my life, beautiful Anna. It feels so unfair for you to leave so early...

I loved your charming British accent... and maybe because I hold a very special spot in my heart for English people, we got connected so organically... 

The Sunday Memorial was the most heartfelt and deeply touching. I learned so much more about you and the incredible life you lived fully... You were a loving wife, mother, sister, and daughter... and you were loved so tenderly, so dearly, and so real....

Rest in peace, my gorgeous Anna 🙌💖💐

I miss you 🌷