WINNIFRED (ANNE) KALYCH (ANNE) (STEPHENS)

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WINNIFRED (ANNE) KALYCH (nee STEPHENS) September 4, 1937 - December 25, 2018 On December 25, 2018 our mom passed away at the age of 81. Her children, Susan, Ralph (Noreen) and Lori MacKelvie, and grandson Conor MacKelvie will love and miss her for the rest of their lives, along with many family members and friends in Calgary, Toronto, Saskatoon and Victoria. Anne was predeceased by her husband Jerry, parents, Dr. Gordon and Helen Stephens, and brothers, John and Jim Stephens. Anne was born in Brandon, Manitoba in 1937, moved with her family to Winnipeg. Like her father, she pursued a career in the medical profession. Graduating from nursing at Winnipeg Children's Hospital in 1958, she formed lifelong friendships with her fellow classmates with whom she reminisced at many nursing reunions. Motherhood came first and in 1965 Anne began her career in nursing focusing in the area of Psycho-Geriatrics. She worked in Winnipeg, Calgary and Victoria in both hospital and personal care home settings. In 1981 she met Jerry Kalych her love and life partner and began a journey of travel and adventure across Western Canada. In 1989, upon retirement from nursing, Anne found her passion in historical education courses and politics, working in four elections for the NDP. All along sharing in Jerry's love of artistry and nature. Finally settling in Victoria, BC in 2008, Anne and Jerry spent their days walking the beaches, smelling the salt air and feeding the ocean birds. Always being inspired by the beauty that surrounded them. Many thanks to the caring staff at Oak Bay Lodge and the Royal Jubilee Hospital. A special thank you to Shiho who continued to visit Anne in the last few years of her life. Anne is now at peace with Jerry, the love of her life. Their ashes will blend together in a small ceremony by the ocean where her children and grandson will celebrate the uniqueness that Anne was - A wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, nurse and a loving, caring, intelligent woman who taught us more than she ever realized. Your work here is done but remember, as Jerry said, "Artist's never Retire". We love you Mom (Anne), always and forever. In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 02, 2019