Wesselman, Anne
Posted Sep 28, 2023 | 5:30 PM
ANNE WESSELMAN (née Brunner), of Lethbridge, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at the age of 92 years.
She was the dearly loved wife of the late Charles Wesselman and is survived by her three daughters: Sherry (Patrick) Rohovie, Joanne(Ron) Poulsen, and Karen (Ronny) Baczuk; her grandchildren: Brianne Rohovie, Spencer (Erin) Rohovie, Jared (Larissa) Poulsen, Taylor ( Reagan ) Poulsen, and Carly Poulsen; her great-grandchildren: Tate and Maelle Volk, Eberle and Keller Poulsen, and Jaxson Rohovie; her sister Rose Sommerfeldt; and extended family including sisters-in-law Ruth (Don ) Henry, and Dorothy VanBuuren; and many nieces and nephews who have many fond memories. Anne also loved and was loved by her church family who knew her as a woman of faith.
Anne had very humble beginnings. Her parents immigrated from Austria with the clothes on their backs after WWI. Anne’s parents, Ludwig and Rosa, worked as farm labourers hoeing sugar beets and doing any work they could to support their growing family. Mum was third of five children. Her schooling began in a one room school house which she walked to daily. When that school closed, she finished high school in Magrath. She enjoyed her school years, having many friends and participating in sports and community. After graduation, she moved with friends to Lethbridge and got a job as a clerk at the Royal Bank of Canada. It was here that she met Chuck Wesselman through friends and through his sister, Ruth, who also worked at the bank. Anne was totally smitten and accepted Chuck’s proposal.
Anne and Chuck were married on June 5, 1954. They began married life living in a renovated chicken coop on Chuck’s family farm. When Anne became pregnant with daughter number one, she quit the bank and became a vital farming partner to Chuck as, together, they built a thriving gladiola and market garden farm. This type of farming is very labour-intensive meaning that Anne worked tirelessly, especially in the garden and strawberry patch. On summer Saturdays, she and Chuck packed all their produce and flowers and went to the Farmer’s Market in Lethbridge where they blessed so many with the fruit of their labour- organic food for their bodies and beautiful flowers for their souls.
Along the way, Anne and Chuck had three daughters: Sherry, Joanne and Karen. Being a mum was Anne’s favourite role in life. Anne shared that the years raising her daughters and living and working together with them were the happiest of her life.
Truly, Anne was a devoted wife and mother. She worked so hard in the garden and then spent many hours canning, freezing and preserving organic food for her family. On top of that, she was an amazing cook and baker. Everyone who knew her remembers her delicious meals and desserts, especially her homemade cookies. To Anne, cooking and baking for the people she cared for was an act of love. She was an excellent hostess who generously welcomed all who crossed her path to her table.
Her faith in God guided Anne’s life. She was an active member in her church community and regularly attended services and bible studies until she was no longer able. She loved to sing and worship the LORD. She consistently prayed for her family her whole life.
In 2016, Chuck’s health declined and they moved to Martha’s House in south Lethbridge. Anne loved it there. She met new people and someone cooked and cleaned for her. She continued to live there when Chuck entered long term care at Edith Cavell Care Centre until April of 2017 when she had a stroke. Anne also needed long term care afterwards and she joined Chuck two rooms down the hall at Edith Cavell. They were able to see each other throughout the day and eat together which made Anne very happy because Chuck was still the love of her life. After Chuck passed in July of 2019, Anne stayed at Edith Cavell until October of 2021 when she moved to the St. Michael’s Care Facility and lived there until her passing.
We will never forget Anne’s graceful attitude that never imposed or complained. She had the best sense of humour and a totally infectious laugh. Her one-liners are legendary and she will be so missed.
A Memorial Service celebrating Anne’s life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Bill Zwartbol officiating. The Memorial Service will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Anne’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com
- Date : 2023-09-27
- Location : Lethbridge, Alberta