October 17, 1935 - January 16, 2023
In loving memory ~
It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of Anne Macdonald, mother of Don (Allison), Duncan (Kimberley), Rob (Kristen), sister of Margie Stephens of Australia, nana to Gabriel and Dune, a great friend of Nan Bell and many others in Nelson BC and around the world.
Anne passed away peacefully at home on Monday, January 16th in her 87th year. She is predeceased by her husband Alasdair and her parents, Tom and Connie Stephens of Australia.
Born in Singleton, Australia, Anne practised as an occupational therapist in Brisbane and Sydney before embarking on a work experience trip to Vancouver, Canada. There, she met her lifelong friend Kay Johnson of the U.K. and the two embarked on the first of many international traveling adventures.
Back in Australia (by boat via the Suez Canal), a mutual friend introduced Anne to the laidback Scotsman, Alasdair Macdonald. The two married in Mona Vale, Australia and after a trip to Scotland to meet Alasdair's family, the pair decided to move to Canada to live halfway between each of their countries of birth. Landing in Montreal, the couple drove in their new Volkswagen Beetle across the country to Vancouver and then Prince Rupert. Anne, ever ready to try anything, worked in a fish factory while Alasdair got a job with CP Air. Soon afterward the opportunity to open a travel agency lured the couple to Nelson BC where they began to raise their family.
Pursuing an earlier interest, Anne retrained as a piano teacher marrying the physiology and psychology of being an OT with her love of music. She remained in touch with many of her former students and fostered the love of music in the adults and children she taught up until December 2022. With boundless energy, Anne involved herself in music festivals, recitals and conferences and relished learning and exploring new dimensions in her work. Her passion for music extended far beyond teaching and over the years she participated in many choral experiences and was a dedicated patron of the arts.
Anne taught all three of her boys to ski and passed on to them her love of tennis. Taking up bicycling midlife, she traveled with friends to Europe, Asia, and Canada's west coast on numerous cycling trips. Anne indulged in her love of swimming as often as possible right up to a celebratory October dip in Kootenay Lake on her 87th birthday.
Anne embraced every opportunity that life had to offer. She will be remembered for her outgoing personality, the ability to connect with people and the community, and her eagerness to try new experiences with the motto, "Carpe Diem".
The family would like to thank all of the friends who so generously supported Anne in her final days and the doctors who worked with her to manage her health. A special thanks is extended to Janet Henderson and Nan Bell. A celebration of Anne Macdonald's life will be held in the summer with a date to be announced soon.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Osprey Foundation's "Macdonald Family Fund" that supports artistic endeavors in the Kootenay region of BC, Canada.
https://ospreycommunityfoundation.ca/funds/macdonald-family-fund/
To leave a personal message of condolence please see Thompson Funeral Service website: https://www.thompsonfs.ca
Thompson Funeral Service