I had the privilege of knowing Anita in many ways. I worked with Anita at Hamilton Health Sciences; and knew her to be always professional, caring of patients and staff alike. What I did not know was that she lived in the Long and Bisby building at the Chedoke site; where my son went to day care manly years later. She was also a neighbour; en route to work, around 830 am., I saw her returning from her walk! Anita was very fit and valued health. I also knew her as Reverend Isaac’s sister; she visited her brother regularly, cared for he and his wife, as his wife’s health declined. She was very supportive of Reverend Isaac through this journey. Lastly I knew Anita as a friend. We attended a play at the Shaw Festival together on many occasions; and I always drove. She shared many stories with me about her large family, working at the hospital and Zonta. I will truly miss her, but am so grateful that she was able to meet her son,Ryan. Anita told us all at Shaw in 2013 that she married Winston, but we did not know about Ryan. What a burden she carried for so many years. How brave of her to do what she did; give up her child. How lucky Ryan was to have found her and met her. Ryan, I hope you know that your mom was an amazing woman, friend to all, mentor to many, sharing, caring, willing to step in to help, and as someone also said ” a woman of grace”. She will be missed.
And thanks to Jeff Mahoney for writing such a passionate, wonderful article in the Spectator on Saturday. I am a better person for having read it.