PHYLLIS ANDERSON

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PHYLLIS ANDERSON Phyllis Sproule Anderson died peacefully in Winnipeg on Friday, December 19, 2003 at the age of 90. Phyllis was born on June 10, 1913 in Toronto, ON, one of four daughters of the late Rev. Harry Roscoe Nobles and Sarah Caroline (Knight) Nobles. Her early years were spent in Regina, SK until her parents moved to Windsor, ON when her father became pastor of Temple Baptist Church there. She attended McMaster University where she was active in drama and debating, graduating in 1936 with a Bachelor of Arts. While at university she met James Stuart Anderson, whom she married in 1938. Phyllis and Stuart lived in several cities across Canada before finally settling in Winnipeg in 1946. They lived in this city from then on, apart from two years in the United States when Stuart worked in New York. Phyllis became a lifelong member of Broadway-First Baptist Church of Winnipeg where she was one of the first woman deacons. Through Broadway, she also became involved with Bethlehem Chapel. She was active in a number of community organizations including the Elizabeth Fry Society as a volunteer womens prison visitor, North End Womens Resource Centre, Canadian Institute for International Affairs, University Womens Club and the United Nations Association. She supported financially or through volunteer activity, international relief, development and peace agencies such as Oxfam-Canada, Winnipeg Coordinating Committee for Disarmament, the Mennonite Central Committee and Amnesty International, among others. She was also an avid supporter of the local arts, in particular the Symphony, Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She is survived by one sister Zella Carrine Willis of Ann Arbor, MI; and her four children, Maryllis (Paul Green-Armytage) of Perth, Western Australia; Timothy (Linda Friesen) of Calgary, AB, Catherine (Marvin Blauer) of Ottawa, ON and Christopher of Winnipeg; and eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Stuart, in 1994 and by her daughter Jennifer, in 1944. Many thanks to the staff of Pembina Place and the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg where Phyllis spent her last few years under care. Thanks too to her companions, who entertained and came to be entertained by her, to the home care providers while she lived at the Wellington and to those who have expressed their condolences. A service of remembrance and celebration of Phylliss life will be held Saturday, January 10, 10:00 a.m. at Broadway-First Baptist Church, 790 Honeyman Ave. (corner of Honeyman and Walnut). All are welcome. Those so wishing may make a donation in her memory to Broadway-First Baptist Church or to a charity of their choice. Cremation has taken place and will be followed by a family burial service in July of 2004.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 06, 2004