Anne Marie Thomson

Thomson, Anne Marie aged 56 years, entered into rest at Surrey, BC on December 30, 2011. She will be sadly missed by her loving husband; Willie, and her children; Chris and Heather. Anne Marie was a teacher in the Langley School District for 35 years. Prayers will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 7:00 pm at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 20786 Fraser Hwy, Langley, B.C., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday January 6, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the BC Cancer Foundation.

Arrangements under the direction of Henderson's Langley Funeral Home, Langley, BC.

Anne Marie was born in Jasper Alberta on August 21, 1955. She was the third child of Rosario (Bob) and Gilberte (Jill) Lacerte and one of five children. When Anne Marie was three the family moved from Jasper to Chilliwack B.C. Her father accepted a teaching position at Sardis Secondary teaching French. Her mother worked at the Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack. Growing up she studied piano and violin but made the decision to focus on piano and completed her performers degree from the Royal Conservatory.

At eighteen she graduated from Chilliwack secondary and then worked for a year teaching piano before enrolling at the University of British Columbia to train as an elementary school teacher. She met her husband to be, Willie, through a friendship with Willie’s sister (also Anne Marie) from high school in 1974. Anne Marie and Willie were married in 1977 at St. Mary’s church in Chilliwack and honeymooned in Jasper before settling in the west end of Vancouver while Anne Marie completed her degree. Anne Marie graduated from UBC in 1978 with a Batchelor of Education degree.

We moved to Langley in 1979 where Anne Marie was offered a teaching position at North Otter Elementary. Bought our first house in Brookswood and lived there from 1979-1990. We have two children. Christopher was born in 1981 and Heather in 1983.

Anne Marie was quite involved with the music ministry at St. Josephs Church in Langley.

We loved to travel and Anne Marie especially liked taking cruises and we were lucky enough to enjoy sailing around northern Europe, Mexico and Alaska. The whole family toured Scotland in 2001 and visited many historic sites and also the birthplace of Willie. Anne Marie’s greatest love was her family and liked nothing more than having get togethers for birthdays and anniversaries or just entertaning family and friends. Her latest hobby was scrapbooking and she completed albums for both children, family tree, Christmas through the years and various holiday trips.

In later years she involved herself in trying to help her fellow teachers by representing her staff in the Langley Teachers Association. She always tried her best to make sure her colleagues were treated fairly and with respect.

Unfortunately she developed cancer in 2010 and went through various treatments including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. All to no avail. Through this battle she maintained her cheery disposition and a brave determination to fight this dreaded disease. She succumbed on December 30, 2011at Laurel Place Hospice in Surrey leaving this world a better place for her having been in it.