ANNE LETITIA JOHNSON (COCHRANE)

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ANNE LETITIA JOHNSON (nee COCHRANE) It is with much sadness we announce the passing of our sweet mom, granny, sister and aunt, on June 25, 2014 at the Arborg Personal Care Home. Anne leaves to cherish her memory daughter Bonnie (Larry) Danard; daughter-in-law Veronica Johnson; son-in-law Frank Zierk; grandchildren: Ingrid (Earl) Morton, Karmen Johnson (Chris Mellen), Brenda (Mike) Mandin, Naomi Johnson (Rich Nelson), Merlin Johnson (Robyn Johnson), Duncan (Amanda) Danard, Erynne Danard (Kent Moffitt); great-grandchildren: Carly and Dakota Johnson, Curtis and Ethan Mandin, Kieran and Quinn Mellen, Logan and Isaac Morton, Adam and Jacob Nelson; sister Margaret and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins. She was predeceased by husband Geiri in 2009, son Jim in 2003, daughter Naida in 1996, as well as sisters Mary and Kathryne in 2012, and brother Bill in 2008 and brother Sam in 2009. Anne was born November 17, 1924 in Vancouver, the eldest of six children of Samuel and Agnes Cochrane, both originally from Ireland. She was raised in Vancouver and on the farm in Langley. As a young woman she worked in a cannery and a shoe factory. On May 17, 1943 she met dad, a prairie boy who had been in Vancouver with the Army and two months after that they were married on July 17. They immediately headed back east by train to dad's family homestead at Drunken Point, just north of Arnes, MB to embark upon new adventures. What a brave young woman she was to leave behind her family and the civilized world she'd grown up in and start a new life with someone she barely knew, heading off to a place that at that time was still remote and isolated with no real roads, just mud trails, no electricity, no running water. She just took it all in stride, which was a key personality trait that saw her through many things over the years. Mom was hard working, steadfast, creative, kind and generous. Although she did not know how to read music, she could play the piano "by ear" and play it well, with so much joy and enthusiasm, often she could just hear a song and be able to pick it out herself on the keys. She was famous for whipping up large batches of delicious homemade bread on a regular basis like it was no big deal, along with all other forms of baking, especially her jelly rolls. She was a fantastic cook as well. She loved frogs and toads, mushrooms and toadstools and had a large collection of them in various forms. She personified "reduce, re-use, recycle" long before it was trendy, and was a clipper of recipes and ideas (she would have loved Pinterest!). Mom was an integral support to dad all through the years, but especially when he was learning to fly and then starting and building the businesses the airline originally known as Gimli Air Service which later became (and still is) Northway Aviation, and SasaGinniGak Lodge. She took care of all the paperwork and bookkeeping and during the early years at Sas, when it still offered the American Plan and meals were provided for guests, mom spent summers at the lodge doing the cooking and cleaning. A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, donations can be made to the charity of your choice as mom believed in supporting many causes. Heartfelt thanks to the Arborg Personal Care Home staff for their wonderful care the past four years. MACKENZIE FUNERAL HOME ARBORG 204-467-2525 mackhome@mts.net

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 05, 2014