It is with profound sadness to announce that Brian’s mother, Anne Northmore of Stony Plain Alberta, passed away peacefully at the age of 84 at the Stony Plain Hospice on 18 June 2024 with her family and friends by her side. She leaves behind cherished sons, Brian, (Diane), Derek (Melissa), adored granddaughters Meghan and Jenna, sister Gale Wight (Nee Irwin) and cherished friends across Canada. 

Brian’s Tribute

Mom was from Ottawa and she and her sister Gale were active in a myriad of sports such as tennis and skiing, instilled by their father. Mom had interesting school mates telling us about Rich Little, Adrienne Clarkson and Olympic gold skier Anne Heggdveit.  She loved to travel and shortly after school worked in Calgary seeing the Rockies for the first time and falling in love with them, which was a large factor in her desire to settle out west. She travelled back to Ottawa where she met my father Harry Northmore. During their courtship, dad was posted to Grostenquin, France and mom was left in Canada. Not knowing what the future held, mom worked and had a close group of friends who wanted to travel to Europe. Her primary goal was to travel Europe, embrace the culture, history and see the grand creations. The catch was they were doing this on $5.00 a day, no more. I laughed when she said they were in Rome ordering pasta with salt, pepper, and olive oil, no meat sauce because it would bust the budget. Mom travelled East and West Europe through Yugoslavia, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium and Holland. In their travels mom and her friends met dad in France and decided to stay and accept dad’s proposal of marriage. This allowed mom to continue her European adventures and travel with dad taking in as much of Europe as it had to offer.  Mom followed Dad to postings in, Bagotville, Quebec, Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Baden Soellingen, Germany and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, teaching dad how to ski and being his mission planner, navigator and travel guide. By far their favorite postings were to Europe, which was twice during their marriage the second time was at Baden Soellingen from 1974 to 1978 where mom ensured almost every weekend and vacation time was filled with skiing, camping, and travelling all over Europe. Her bonus was she was able to see her sister Gale, niece Susan, nephew Donald, and Gale’s husband Bill who worked as a teacher in Lahr Germany for an overlap of a couple of years, Mom said a good part of our education was going to be in travelling Europe learning the culture and history. Mom made sure they met and made long and lasting friendships with select people which endure to this day from the bonds of close military family camaraderie. She will be missed dearly by friends John, Louise, Bill, Jim, Gerry, and Marylyn. 

Mom worked her entire life in clerical jobs, becoming a legal secretary in the late 70s where she imparted on Derek and I her astute wisdom for legal matters and saving for financial independence. When dad retired out of the military in 1980 from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Edmonton, Alberta, mom worked enjoying her profession as a legal secretary, talking well of her work colleagues, boss and friend Dave Mercer. Mom was fortunate to retire with dad near the same time to perfect their golf game together by living in Stony Plain near a golf course. Once more even out of the military circle mom made close friends in Edmonton and Stony Plain. She will be missed dearly by her friends Kathy, Elaine, Dave, Joyce, Brigette, and Bonnie. 

Derek and Melissa provided two beautiful daughters who mom loved greatly and would tell about the many interesting adventures, travels and historical sites to see in Europe. These stories of travel inspired her granddaughter Meghan to work and live in Germany, with a continuing adventure of work to Mexico. Jenna too was enthralled by the stories of travel and will be carrying on mom’s love of adventure in her own time as well. Mom would always talk about the wonderful meals at my brother Derek’s house I think acting as official taste tester of the food he cooked giving special attention to desserts he and Melissa created.

Mom and dad were able to enjoy some exotic travels once more, in 2014 and 2016 to Hawaii with me and Diane where mom took full advantage of her love of photography by photographing the whales, turtles and exotic flora and fauna. Her last chances to see Europe again were realized twice more on visiting Diane and I in Naples, Italy in 2017 and 2019. Mom was treated to visiting old and new haunts in Germany, Switzerland and Austria where she put to use her knowledge of German. By far her lasting travel memories were of seeing for the first time the majestic Matterhorn from the village of Zermatt and experiencing the Austrian Tyrolean cow festival with her Austrian friend Bridgette from Stony Plain on her last visit. This had such a lasting impression we reminisced about it numerous times even shortly before her passing. 

Mom fought a valiant fight against her cancer, even as it ravaged her body, only taking medically induced pain killers in the last few weeks. During those weeks and at the end she was surrounded by family, close friends and being tech savvy, mom was able to communicate with close friends outside of the Stony Plain area, like her high school friend Diane from Ottawa, and beloved sister Gale. 

I am so grateful to have had a kind and caring mom, who also imparted on me the spirit of adventure, travel, and  important life skills. Most importantly I will treasure her genuine kindness and love she demonstrated to my wife Diane. Though both being from Ottawa, being hard workers and having a zest for adventure and travel they are kindred spirits. I will remember her always, cherish all the times we had, and celebrate her life each day.