ANDERSON, Winona

ANDERSON

Winona Francis Anderson, nee MacLennan was born on September 2, 1935, in Swan River, Manitoba, and grew up on the family homestead farm. Winona was the first child of six children of Douglas H. MacLennan, of Scottish and English ancestry, and Sigriður Sigurðardóttir (Sigga Sigurdson) whose family came from Iceland. Winona loved going to school in the nearby one-room schoolhouse in Crestview. She insisted on attending high school and inspired her younger siblings to pursue their education. She graduated from high school in Swan River and then from graduated from Normal School in Winnipeg the following year.

Winona met Henry in normal school and after graduating they married on December 28, 1955. Henry was teaching in Oyen Alberta at that time. They moved to Lethbridge soon after, where they lived until 2002 when they moved to Calgary that year. Sadly, Henry died the next year. Mum always described herself as a ‘broken-hearted widow”.

Winona was a stay-at-home mum for Lorraine (Lori) and Bruce until returning to school at the new University of Lethbridge.

Winona finished her education with a B. Ed with a specialty in library sciences, fulling her lifetime goal of becoming a librarian.  Her first teaching post was at the Dorothy Gooder School as the school librarian. She later was the school librarian at Gilbert Paterson, finishing her career at General Stewart. She was a member of the ATA.

Winona was a lifelong member of the United Church of Canada, McKillop in Lethbridge and St. Thomas in Calgary.  She attended UCW and sang in the choir for many years. She also volunteered for many years at Canadian Mental Health Association. Winona was also an active member of the University Women’s Club (CFUW). Some of her favourite times were with her bridge club. She loved Scottish country dancing, travel, painting, cats and above all reading.

Winona was a devoted daughter. Her father once said: “she never gave us a moment’s worry’. She was a loving sister, wife and the best of mothers and grandmas. She was kind to everyone and will be sadly missed.

Winona is predeceased by her parents, her brother David, her beloved husband Henry Robert Anderson and her much-loved grandson, Jon Robert Henry Symons. She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Dewart (Dudley), and May (Ron) Goral, her brother Greg, brother-in-law Charlie (Irene) and daughter Lorraine (Patrick), son Bruce and granddaughter Kale Gosen as well as many nephews and nieces.