Annie grew up in a home that knew God’s love and prayer’s power, even though Communist authorities were closing all the churches. Annie’s father traded his wedding ring for a few kgs of flour, rice and cream of wheat to feed his family. He was taken to Siberia Feb. 18, 1938, for receiving letters from Canada, and never seen again. Now Annie’s mother had to work on the collective farm. Annie and her sister took turns going to school and caring for their siblings. Her family retreated with the Germany army in 1943. From a refugee camp in Germany, they were sent to Yugoslavia in 1944 to live in confiscated homes regularly raided by the owners; nightly, Annie’s family dressed to flee. With Russian troops marching on Yugoslavia, her family was sent back to Germany. In 1945, Magdeburg, Germany, was given to the Russians, who closed the border. Annie helped others cross into British territory. She and her sister immigrated to Canada in 1948 on the Scythia, settling in Virgil, Ont. While working for a doctor, Annie met Hans when he accompanied his mother to appointments. After he left to work up north, he began writing her: the start of their courtship. Annie delighted in doing kind things for Hans and drawing out their daughter Susan. She volunteered at the MCC thrift shop nearly 40 years. Annie and Hans were deacons at Cornerstone Church. Hans was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1992. After his death, Annie moved to Tabor Manor, where she baked piroshky with her friends and walked to Scott Street Church.
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