Obituary - Annie-Catherine Crowley

Annie Catherine Marie Crowley, beloved wife of Raymond Jeremiah Crowley of Medicine Hat died peacefully at home on Sunday, October 30, 2005 at the age of 80 years. It was a wonderful day for Annie as she happily celebrated her 51st wedding anniversary surrounded by her entire family. Annie also leaves to cherish her memory six children, Rita-Rae Crowley, Matthew Crowley (Nancy), Karen-Anne Cherwonogrodzky (John), Brigid Bishop (Gary), Katie Lind (Trevor), Vincent Crowley (Shauna); and seventeen grandchildren, Brendan, Derek and Athena Crowley; Belinda Hogel (Cherwonogrodzky), David, Christina and Catherine Cherwonogrodzky; Miles, Jessica, Joel, Grace and Davis Bishop; Erica and Steven Lind; Maiah, Cian and Ella Crowley. Annie was predeceased by her parents, Madelaine & Joseph McKenna. Annie was born on June 25, 1925 in Romance, SK. Her father's job as Station Agent with the CPR, found them living in several small communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, however she was primarily raised in Maple Creek, SK. She loved listening to the train whistles at night as they rolled by the station. Some of her fondest childhood memories were of the summers spent at a relatives potato farm on P.E.I. She was proud to return home sporting the latest hair style and fashions from Montreal. She completed her high school education in Edmonton, while boarding at St. Joseph convent. After graduation she was employed in several different positions, but the high-light of her working career was with the DND in Toronto, Ottawa and Suffield. She made many long lasting friendships during these years. She married Raymond on October 30, 1954 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Calgary. They settled in Medicine Hat shortly after and she devoted her life to being a wife, home maker and a stay at home mother of six. She relished the opportunity to educate her children, teaching them in creative ways to read, write and to develop an appreciation of music. She believed a well rounded person required a background in the fine arts. She herself achieved Grade Ten in both piano and voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music, and she used this talent to teach piano for a number of years. Annie was very caring and always guided by her deep faith in God. Her strong Catholic faith sustained her through all the vicissitudes of life. She and Ray gained strength from praying the rosary daily. She was an active member of the Pro-Life Association for many years and served as president for a period of time. Annie was very creative, artistic, and fun loving, often referring to herself as a "joker". She had a passion for books and writing and received an award from Reader's Digest for a piece she submitted. She worked as a freelance writer for a variety of publications and eventually started her own home desk-top publishing business: Athena-Marie Publications. She pursued many other interests over the years, including: gardening, bird watching, hiking, knitting, cooking, photography, classical music, fine arts, early childhood education, and playing Scrabble and card games. Her children and grandchildren have fond memories of her teaching them how to play cards and other games. She enjoyed watching them grow as individuals, supporting each of them in their interests. A favorite past-time was watching her grandchildren participate in sports, and also watching hockey, figure skating, baseball and curling on TV Ray and family offer their sincere gratitude to Dr. Jeraj and staff at Crescent Heights Clinic, Dr. Foley and staff at the Cancer Clinic, the Palliser Health Region Home Care staff, the Palliative Care Society, as well as the staff of the Medicine Hat Diagnostic Lab. The family would appreciate that those wishing to remember Annie do so with a gift to the PHR Home Care Program or the Palliative Care Society. Ray's children particularly want to express their gratitude to their father for his tireless devotion to Annie, which allowed her to remain at home throughout her illness. Those wishing to pay their respects did so at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 - 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Thursday, November 3, 2005, between 6:00 P.M. and 6:55 P.M. The Vigil Prayer Service commenced at 7:00 P.M. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 238 - 2 Avenue N.E., Medicine Hat on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 10:30 A.M. with Father John Maes celebrant. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery, and a luncheon will be held in the church basement.