Marie Anderson

It is with great sadness that we announce the gentle passing of Marie Louise Anderson (nee Eriksson) of Calgary, Alberta, on Sunday, December 3, 2023. After a long illness, Marie passed away peacefully in her own home at 86 years old surrounded by her very loving family. She lives on forever in the hearts of her husband, Alfred George Anderson of Calgary; daughters, Heather Cortis and Yvonne Cumming (Randy); and granddaughter, Victoria Marie Yvonne Cortis, all of Calgary. She is also lovingly remembered by nephews, Eric Hutton (Bev) and Donnie Hutton (Paulette); sister-in-law, Sharon Anderson; nieces, Laurie Anderson (Gail) and Deborah Curran (Mike); and numerous great nieces and great nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins and their families. She is also fondly remembered by many friends and neighbors. Marie was predeceased by her grandmother, Marguerite Godefroid of Blairmore, AB; her parents, Alida and Gus of Blairmore, BC; her beloved sister, Yvonne; and brother-in-law, Gordon Hutton of Chilliwack, BC; and nephew, Gordie Hutton of Chilliwack, BC; her parents-in-law, Freda (nee Brown) and James Anderson of Calgary; sister-in law, Rhoda May Anderson of Calgary;  and brother-in-law, James (known as Jimmy) Anderson of Okotoks, AB. Marie was a true friend and was loved by many friends and other family members who have also predeceased her.

Born in Blairmore, Alberta, to loving parents Alida (nee Grimbiemont) and Gus Eriksson, Marie was a rambunctious and lively child. She played hockey, climbed trees and played sports at school. She went swimming in her “good” clothes; ran races in the mud and played baseball in her mother’s high heeled shoes; she slid down the coal chute in her sister’s new coat; and frequently tested the patience of her mom, dad and older sister. Her first car was a “lilac and plum dodge with pink and black interior”! She grew into a graceful, elegant, and beautiful woman, but she always maintained that twinkle in her eye from her spirited and playful youth.

As a young girl, Marie worked at the swimming pool in the nearby town of Frank, until she went off to Calgary to study bookkeeping at Mount Royal College. After graduation, she went to work for her father Gus in the family business of Knight Lumber in Elk Valley, BC. Over the years, Marie worked as a bookkeeper at various businesses including Calgary Glass, NorAlta Motors Dealership, TravelWorld Consultants, and Cruickshank Phillips Law Firm, until she retired in 1993.

Married for 63 years, Marie was first glimpsed by her future husband, Alfred Anderson from an upstairs grade 8 school window at the Blairmore Collegiate School when she was playing hopscotch in grade 6. They courted on and off until they married in Lethbridge on February 20, 1960. Their daughter Heather May was born a year later on February 18, 1961 and was followed shortly thereafter by daughter Yvonne Jacqueline on July 2, 1962. They were married almost 64 years at the time of Marie’s passing.

With Alfred’s career in construction, their early married years took Marie and Alfred and their young daughters on many adventures in their mobile home to such remote places including: Waterloo Lake near Uranium City, SK., Brazeau Dam, AB., Little Buffalo River near Fort Smith in Wood Buffalo National Park, NWT., and Radium Hot Springs, BC. They encountered bears in their backyards, watched moose, elk and bison out the windows and their neighbours often included families of deer and coyotes, wolves and all kinds of wildlife – even the majestic families of whooping cranes. Marie made bread, sewed clothing, gardened and cared for her family in often very remote isolated locations.

Marie and Alfred bought their matrimonial home in Calgary in 1963, where she lived at the time of her passing. They had purchased another home in Edmonton in 1967, and lived in Edmonton until returning to their Calgary home in 1994. While residing in Edmonton, Alfred continued his work in remote locations for several years while Marie stayed in Edmonton raising the girls. Marie was a devoted mother and a wonderful role-model! She raised, supported, chauffeured, nursed, mentored, educated, counselled and always loved her daughters with all her heart. With her husband unavoidably working away from town much of the time, she managed this mostly on her own for many years.

Marie was a talented seamstress, making ballet recital costumes, Klondike Day dresses, Halloween costumes, curtains and countless other items. She took an upholstery course and reupholstered furniture; she sanded and lacquered her hardwood floors and built “crooked” rooms with crooked door frames. Marie was a passionate reader, particularly enjoying Agatha Christie and Mary Roberts Rinehart and other mystery writers. She loved animals with a passion, so over the years the family home was always filled with cats and dogs, even gerbils and hamsters and turtles. During her last few years Marie spent many happy hours watching old movies with her daughters and granddaughter, often with either a dog or cat on her lap or at her feet.

In 1995 Marie and Alfred bought their winter home in Thousand Palms, California. Over the next 23 years they enjoyed many warm winters in the south where Marie played cards, walked with friends, volunteered at a local school, shopped antique stores, attended estate sales and swam in the pools. She also volunteered for many years at the Bob Hope Chrysler Golf Classic alongside her sister and dear California friends.

One of Marie’s greatest joys was the birth of her granddaughter Victoria Marie Yvonne in 2010. As a devoted grandmother, she read books, coloured and painted pictures, played games and spent endless hours playing dress-up. Until she was no longer able to do so, she and Alfred lovingly watched soccer games, skating lessons, Girl Guide ceremonies, ballet and dance recitals, swimming lessons and more. She will always be her granddaughter’s biggest fan.

In 2015, Marie suffered a post-surgical stroke and her brain sustained a serious injury. Although she recovered almost fully, she began a slow decline into dementia and her last few months were a sad and painful time for her and her family. We are so grateful that she now suffers no pain and we can begin to heal with our beautiful loving memories of our wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, great aunt, great- great aunt and dear friend.

We are eternally grateful to Prairie Rose Cremation and Funeral Services for their loving and gentle care of Marie.

A private gathering to celebrate Marie’s life will be held at a later date. As Marie faithfully supported many charities during in her lifetime, if friends so wish, donations can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. A Memorial Tree will be planted in her memory.