Annabelle "Ann" (Anchan) Paulsen

   It is with sadness our family announces the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and "Big Grandma," Ann. Surrounded by her children, Ann passed away on June 17, 2022 at the Crowsnest Pass Health Centre. She was 99 years, 9 months, and 9 days old.

   Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Ann faced great tragedy early on with the death of her parents and separation from her siblings by the age of 4 years. She spent her childhood growing up in the Providence Orphanage of Vancouver, BC, and in a foster home thereafter.  She often remarked on the pain and difficulty of those early years. As she always yearned for reunification with her siblings and after years of search in her adulthood, she eventually reconnected with many of them - a feat she gratefully cherished the rest of her days. 

   She met her husband, Fred, and married in 1944. They started their own family soon after, together raising five strong sons and one precious daughter. As a committed and devoted housewife and homemaker, she later employed her industriousness and willingness to help in other spheres of employment including retail, commercial cooking, in operations of a cafe and garage, and as a telephone operator. She also worked several years in client home care. She took great pride in work and in helping others. She always believed that anything worth doing, was worth doing well.  She instilled these same values of hard-work, integrity, dedication, and compassion in her children. 

   During her nearly 100 years of life, Ann was no stranger to hardship, change or adversity.  As a pioneer, she overcame many seasons of challenge, struggle and strife, enduring with great grit and resilience. Even though she wasn't much of a church-going person, she often looked to her Lord, Jesus, for strength and help to navigate the challenges of life. She believed in the healing power of love and instilled the dimensions of this love in her children. 

   Ann was intelligent, honest, and forthright. She valued ethics and integrity. She was generous and affirming. She was tender when needed and firm when she had to be. She treasured spending time with her family. 

   Ann appreciated staying informed on current events. She travelled internationally to Hong Kong and throughout the USA, appreciating the differences in culture and tradition. She loved to garden, sew, play card games, do crossword puzzles, and was an avid reader. She loved all of God's creation, delighting in animals, birds, and nature and had a particular fondness for hummingbirds. She had an eye for detail, and was keenly observant of the intricacies in others that made them special and unique. She loved fashion and liked to compliment her attire with a fine touch of jewelry. 

   Over the course of her adult life, she lived in several places in British Columbia, including Vancouver, Cranbrook, Penticton and Jaffray. She eventually made Blairmore, Alberta her final place of residence. She spent the last seven years of her life living as a resident of the York Creek Lodge. At the Lodge's closure on June 15, 2022 she was the last resident to move out of the facility prior to spending her final days receiving palliative care in the Crowsnest Pass Health Centre. 

   Left to moun her passing and celebrate her life and legacy are her children, Andy (Jane) Paulsen, Raymond (Barb) Paulsen, Jeff Paulsen, and Cathy (John) Pierzchala; her special daughter-in-law, Gail Lancaster; her sixteen grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Hannah Anchan; all of her siblings, including one brother and many sisters; her husband, Fred Paulsen; her two sons, Michael “Mickey” Paulsen and David Paulsen; and her grandsons, Adam Pierzchala and Gordon “Gordie” Paulsen.

   With respect for Ann's wishes, a private family gathering will be held later this summer with her ashes interred in the Pioneer Cemetery of Creston, BC. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be gratefully accepted by the Covenant House Vancouver (www.covenanthousebc.org).  Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca.

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel entrusted with the arrangements. (403) 562-8555

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