ANNE SIGURDSON

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ANNE (DANGER) SIGURDSON (nee ANNA THIESSEN) June 23, 1952 - September 17, 2016 We are saddened to announce the death of our mother, wife and grandmother, at the age of 64. Born the middle child of eight siblings, to Maria (nee Buhler) and Franz Thiessen, in Paraguay, Anne immigrated to Winnipeg at the age of five, with her family. She was educated in North Kildonan at Princess Margaret School, Lord Wolseley School and River East Collegiate. At age 17, Anne started a family with Gord Sigurdson. They had four children: Ken (partner Cheryl, daughter Kira), Eric (wife Kalyn, daughters: Anara, Vayda; sons: Slater, Bodhi), Kris (wife Tomke, daughter Lene) and Jessica (cat Charlie), who are, in Anne's words: "Four of the brightest, cleverest, kindest and nicest people you could want in your life." Anne spent the 1980s and 1990s raising her four children and starting a family business with Gord. The two visited dozens of countries together during those years. In her early 50s, Anne discovered a passion for solo adventure; she trekked the Grand Canyon, Mt. Everest Base Camp, Patagonia, Bulgaria, Bhutan and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. In 2009, she retired upon learning that she was to become a grandmother. Anne's greatest joy in the six years before her death was spending time with her grandchildren: Anara, Vayda, Lene, Slater and Bodhi. She recently said of her grandchildren: "I have known such privilege to spend time with my grandchildren; really indescribable. Sleepovers are especially special! I have the smartest, most beautiful grandchildren in the world!!" Anne never had a middle name, so in 2006 she decided to ask her kids to give her one. To her delight and surprise, they chose the name "Danger," which became her unofficial middle name, and which made her laugh at every mention. Anne loved elephants, the Blue Jays, black coffee, red wine, the lake, mystery novels and everything British. She was a strong and fiercely independent woman who loved her solitude, though she always placed family above all and would drop anything to help or support them in any way she could. She was always thoughtful and generous. In her words, success was defined as, "smiling every day and being kind." Always a great listener, Anne wanted to teach others to listen as well. In her words: "Learn how to listen to each other...When somebody wants to talk to you, just shut up and listen, you'll find it makes a world of difference to you and to them." Her family will miss her warm smile, her laugh and her unconditional love. We will never forget our brown-eyed girl. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Parizat Nestling Home - a home for disadvantaged girls in Nepal. Nepal was Anne's favourite place in the world, and she visited this home during her travels. http://www.parizat-nestling-home.com/ "There is no such thing as an ending... just a part where I leave the story." Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 26 at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street with light snacks to follow. The interment will be held privately at a later date.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 24, 2016