ANNE FAIRLEY

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ANNE FAIRLEY 1932 - 2010 After a fall irreparably damaged her pelvis in 2008 and an eight year struggle with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Anne's heart stopped on January 20, 2010 with her husband Bud and close friends at her bedside in the Victoria General Hospital. Anne is survived by Bud, her husband of 48 years, daughter Kathi Moroz (Nick), Edmonton, stepsons Stephen (Sharon Cairns), Calgary and Bryant Fairley (Barb Wright), Victoria, grandchildren Misha Moroz, Katy and Elly Fairley and sister-in-law Joyce Brown, Niagara-on-the-Lake. She was predeceased by her half brother, Richard Brown and her grandson, Ross Moroz. Anne and Bud began their life together in Montreal. She regretfully left the advertising business when her husband was transferred to Winnipeg in 1964. At first, Anne did many short term jobs through Drake Personnel, then at the YWCA and the Winnipeg School Board. In 1972, Continuing Education beckoned and Anne went to the University of Winnipeg taking courses to improve her writing skills. Anne always went downtown from Fort Richmond by bus where she heard and saw many inspirations for poetry that culminated with her chapbook, On a Winnipeg Bus . Her only published fiction is based on one overheard sentence, We take Gram every third Sunday. Her new vocation blossomed after she sold several articles about holidays in Japan and Russia. Anne also edited manuscripts including a nurses directive for first time mothers. She also built up a computer database of over 5000 old time remedies and published a book of poetry and recipes, Wheat under Venus . However, Anne's passion was teaching and writing poetry. Anne was an active member of the Canadian Authors Association for over 30 years, during four of which she coordinated the judging of nonfiction books published from coast to coast. She was also a member of Penhandlers, a group of women writers who constructively criticized each other's work. Family, friends, and acquaintances will remember Anne as a gregarious inquisitive person who could have intense conversations with complete strangers. She was indeed a fun-loving Leo whose laugh was contagious and who was generous, warm and kind-hearted. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life, delayed by family involved in the Olympics, will be held at The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg, 603 Wellington Crescent on Saturday, February 20, 2010 (today) at 1:00 p.m. The family extends sincere gratitude to Anne's many friends for their wonderful support as her life slowly slipped away over the last two months. Anne will be truly missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, those interested may donate to The Canadian Writers Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 13281, Kanata Station, Ottawa, ON K2K 1X4. This Foundation, of which Anne was a Director for many years, has been assisting authors who are no longer able to support themselves.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 20, 2010