Obituary of Anna Mayhew

Mrs. Anna Mayhew of Camrose, passed away on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the age of 94 years. Anna Eva O'Fee Mayhew was born in Rusharkin, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland on Feb 22, 1918. She, along with her parents, Henry and Ellen Jane O'Fee; her six siblings, and her Father's sister, Aunt Catherine O'Fee immigrated to Canada in 1927. Growing up on the farm they settled on in Clandonald, Alberta she loved the outdoors; the freedom to play, to ride horses and spend winters skating on the pond. As Clandonald was an Irish settlement they had many friends with the same interests which added to their childhood enjoyment. In later years Anna was a softball player; curler and speedskater. As kids we used to laugh at her speedskates, and how she would swing one arm as she went around the rink. She often told how they played hockey on the sloughs around the farm with tree branches with knobs on the end and teased her grandkids about all the fancy equipment they had. She loved music and was so proud of the singing competitions she won in Irelend and Vermilion area. For many of her later years she led the choir at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bawlf. Anna graduated from St, Joseph's Convent in Clandonald and married Gordon Mayhew of Vermilion in May 1938 and before his death in 1996, they had 58 years together. Gordon and Anna first lived in Victoria, B.C. where Eleanor and Kathleen were born; Grassland, Alberta where Judi was born, and then Bawlf where Brian and Wanda arrived. Lawrence Willier later joined us to round out the family. Anna was the homemaker while Gordon Managed the Beaver Lumber yards in Bawlf and Peace River. They then moved to Edmonton and upon Gordon's retirement, moved to Lake Isle where they had built their cottage on the lake. It is difficult for any of us to think of Anna without thinking of her at the lake. She loved having as many people as possible stay over, and she filled us with her home made buns; great fried chicken and potato salads. Their final years were spent in the friendly community of Camrose. Anna lived her Catholic faith through tireless giving to those in need, never judging and always giving something of her own to someone else. She felt anything really nice was too good for her, and would give it to someone who had less than she did. She taught us to never be afraid to speak out for the less fortunate if we saw an injustice. Many nights, after a hard day of providing for all of us, she would sit while we did our homework and write letters to the Government trying to get a pension or welfare assistance for a neighbour who needed help. Our door was always open to anyone and I cannot remember many meals without 1 or 2 extra people at the table. After the war we often found a stranger asleep on the floor by the warm stove… and they never left without a full stomach and lunch for the road. Laughter was the norm in our house growing up and Mom's sense of humour was what sustained us. We all knew we could get a rise out of her by saying something against the Irish, or by not knowing our Canadian history. And she could never tell a joke without messing up the punchline but she could quote Shakespeare and recite lengthy poems from her school days right to the end! She was an avid sports fan and loved the Eskimos, the Oilers and Blue Jays. In the early years she listened to football games and boxing matches on the radio while doing her housework, and God help the person who spoke during a curling game on TV. She never missed the National news and always read the newspapers to keep up on the world events. Her love for travel and thirst for knowledge was instilled in all of us, but it was her love for music that stands out. There never was a family gathering without Anna's rendition of "Danny Boy". When I think of her long relationship with my father, their togetherness was never so well demonstrated as when they danced at our weddings. Together they seemed to float around the dance floor. They always set an example of how couples should work together and respect one another. Although we are all saddened today by the loss of this great woman, we all know she is where she has always wanted to be; in the arms of her Lord. I can think of no one more deserving of the words: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Mom would want nothing more than for her family to pay homage by trying to follow in her footsteps. She will be with her loved ones who went before her, perhaps singing Danny Boy ............and she will dance with our father again. May she rest in peace. She leaves to mourn her six children; "Judy" Maureen Hanak of Kelowna, B.C., Eleanor (Lyle) Holm of Camrose, Kathleen (Don) Gill of Edmonton, Brian (Penny) of Kelowna, B.C. , Wanda (Dr. Barry) Boyes of Wilmington, Deleware U.S.A. and Lawrence (Cheryl) Willier of St. Albert; sixteen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; one sister Claire Steward of Kamloops, B.C.and two sisters-in-law Rene Mayhew and Doris (Jack) Curtis both of Victoria, B.C.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Anna was predeceased by her husband Gordon;one son-in-law Ken Hanak; three sisters Kathleen O'Fee, Bridgid Porter, Mary Lambert; two brothers Liam and John. A prayer vigil was held on Monday April 30, 2012 at 7:00pm from the Burgar Memorial Chapel (4817 51 ave Camrose, Alberta) Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 11:00am from St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Camrose. Inurnment followed in the Camrose Cemetery. Memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the St. Francis Xavier Church building fund for Senior center.