LEWIS, Anita Emma (nee Falkenberg)
November 30, 1919 - July 19, 2016
Anita Emma Lewis (our mom, sister, aunt, nana and G.G.) died peacefully on July 19th in her 96th year after a short stay at Surrey Memorial Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband Ray, and is survived by her daughter Barbara (Ron), grandchildren Tim (Mhairi) and Alyssa (Christopher), great-grandchildren Stella, Adele and Henry, her sister Violet, as well as many nephews and nieces scattered across the country.
She was born on November 30, 1919 into a small farming community (Castor) in central Alberta and lived a cherished life with her sisters and brother helping their parents with the family farm. Anita, the oldest of the 4 children, learned all about hard work in her early years but also how to have fun. Her stories about riding her horse to school, weekend softball tournaments and Saturday night dances were classics and often told at family gatherings.
The family wasn`t large enough to contain her limitless energy and she left for the big city of Calgary in her teen years. She always worked and one of her more interesting jobs was a `bomb girl` during the war. Eventually Anita moved to BC where she worked for many years at the Woodward`s department store. It was at Woodward`s that she met the love of her life. Ray and Anita married and settled in Surrey where they raised their daughter Barbara. She came to call BC her home however her spirit never really left the farm or Castor. She regularly returned to visit with her friends and relatives and when she was `out west' she kept up to date on local happenings by reading every issue of the Castor Advance which were sent to her by her sister Vi.
A lifelong volunteer, Anita supported many causes and organizations and usually wound up being the president or chair of most of them. She happily gave of her time to the Red Cross, The Royal Canadian Legion (lifetime member and charter member of the Whalley Legion), The George Derby Veterans Hospital, and The Amos Ferguson facility to name a few.
Beyond her love of service, Anita was devoted to her family. She took great pleasure in playing cribbage with her grandchildren, and even more pleasure when she beat them. Anita was talented with her hands and always had a quilting or knitting project on the go which were ultimately destined for family members. And how she loved her extended family, the Lewis clan! Noting was more fun or special for her than to get together with dozens of relatives over a dinner or other celebration. Anita always looked on the bright side of life. Even when her world was getting smaller she would say that she was the luckiest girl in the world. Anita touched the lives of many people on her life's journey and we are all richer for that. We are sad that she is no longer here, but know that her spirit is dancing in the sky keeping watch over us. Special thanks to her long time friend Lydia, her very special daily personal caregivers, her compassionate pharmacist Fred, her nurses from Fraser Health, her foot care nurse Karen, her hairdresser Mae who always made her feel good and Richard who checked in with her most days. All were instrumental in supporting Anita toward the end of her journey.