Anne Babey

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, auntie and friend, Anne slipped away from us peacefully, surrounded by love, on August 7, 2023, at Sherbrooke Community Centre after battling dementia.

Anne was a devoted wife, amazing mother to two children, and a devoted grandmother to 7 grandchildren whom she loved with all her heart. Anne was born on April 14, 1946 in Dundee, Scotland but grew up in Calgary with her 4 siblings, where she gained her intense love of family and her always positive outlook on life. She could always be counted on to keep her family grounded and thankful, often reminding “remember there is always somebody worse off than you”. Anne was humble and gracious, caring and a great listener, with a firm understanding of what is important—the simplicity of living a good life with those you love and who love you. Her kindness, generous heart and unselfish spirit will be deeply missed by all those she shared her life with.

Anne met Earl, her devoted husband of 54 years, in Calgary and they married in 1968. Children followed with son EJ in 1973 and daughter Jodie in 1975. In 1981, the family moved to Saskatoon where Anne continued to be a dedicated stay-at-home mom for several years, until she began work at SIAST as an administrative assistant. Anne really enjoyed her job, and some of her colleagues became her closest friends. She loved spending time with them at work and at their “splurge” and “clothing” clubs.

Over their 55 plus years, Anne loved traveling, camping, and fishing with Earl. Together they enjoyed all four seasons in the Rocky Mountains, many a campfire throughout Western Canada and camping with the Good Sam’s Club where they developed many friendships and made many good memories. Their travels took them to Hawaii, Europe, the Panama Canal, Arizona and Florida, where they wintered for several years.

Anne loved her family deeply and kept them close. She enjoyed cooking and baking (except puffed wheat cake), especially hosting family gatherings and having a busy house full of grand kids. Family meant everything to Anne, so gatherings were always open to others who weren’t able to be with their own loved ones during the holidays. She liked crocheting baby blankets and sweaters for family and friends, and watching her grandkids compete in the many sports they play. She loved to be involved in their lives, and always found time to support them in whatever they were up to.

She loved to laugh and smile, and had a very witty sense of humour, often timed to lighten the mood if things were getting too “serious”. It was not uncommon for her to be making funny faces at people in a room full of conversation if she noticed someone was missing out on the fun. Even during the last few years when her memories faded, she continued to make jokes and smile when she heard laughter.

Anne enjoyed listening to music, especially ABBA and Celine Dion and Boney M at Christmas time. Anne was not known for singing, except to her grandchildren. Her favourite song to sing to them was, “You Are My Sunshine”. She started singing it to them as newborns, and carried on until she couldn’t physically sing anymore. As it is with the circle of life, it was their turn to sing it back to her before she passed.

Anne was predeceased by her parents Leonard and Barbara Toner and her in-laws Peter and Katie Babey.

Left behind to carry on and honour her memory are her loving husband, Earl Babey, and her children EJ (Dana) Babey and Jodie (Greg) Wagner. Anne adored her grandchildren and was so very proud of them: Brynn, Logan and Sage Babey, and Katerina, Ava, Elyse and Olivia Wagner. She will be greatly missed by her siblings Dave Toner, Robert (Patty) Toner, John (Paulette) Toner, and Lucie (Terry) Montford; sisters-in-law Lillian (Neil) McConnachie, Lorraine (Glenn) Brodt, and Carolyn (Bill) Flynn as well as her many nieces and nephews who lovingly referred to her as ‘Crazy Auntie Anne’.

Anne, you will always be our sunshine. We love you, rest in peace.

Interment will take place on Friday, August 25, 2023 at 10:30am at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 210 Wess Road, Saskatoon, SK. A Celebration of Life and lunch will follow from 11:30am-1:30pm in the Tawaw Room at the Sherbrooke Community Centre, 401 Acadia Drive, Saskatoon, SK.

Anne’s family would like to sincerely thank the incredible staff at Sherbrooke Community Centre for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Sherbrooke Community Centre.

https://www.sherbrookecommunitycentre.ca/get-involved/donate/