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Obituary
Despite adopting the motto “Unkraut vergeht nicht” (weeds never die), Annelise Talbot (née Gasafi), born November 16, 1951 in Baiersbronn, near Stuttgart, Germany, passed away May 15, 2023 at the age of 71.
She arrived in Canada in February of 1957 on a boat that, as she would tell it, nearly sank on its journey across the Atlantic. Her family overcame a number of obstacles and hardships both prior to and immediately after immigrating, before eventually prospering in their new country. These early experiences forged a woman of iron, who was a force to be reckoned with, always spoke her mind, and never shied away from standing up for what she believed in. She was generous, unwaveringly progressive, and tenacious.
She loved reading, and language. She relished the opportunity to verbally correct TV and radio personalities’ grammar. In addition to English, she spoke her family of origin’s dialect of German, and learned French while attending university. At this point, she wouldn’t have hesitated to interrupt and tell you that her father spoke seven languages, so three was hardly impressive – but she was.
Annelise was an adventurous home cook for her generation, learning to make Szechuan hot & sour soup in the early 80s, long before the internet allowed her to find any recipe she could ever want. She took great pride in the meals she prepared for her family and loved ones. In addition to cooking, Annelise enjoyed other (sometimes short-lived) creative outlets at different times in her full life – gardening, poetry, sewing, knitting, and painting in watercolours.
Additionally, she found purpose in being a key part of various community organizations, such as the Eastern Manitoba Concert Association (EMCA), teaching ESL to refugees and newcomers, and the movement to re-establish a school serving the francophone community in Saint Georges while living in Pinawa, Manitoba; and as a key member of book clubs and the historic Women’s Institute (Strabane) while in Waterdown, Ontario.
She was fortunate to share nearly 40 eventful years of marriage with her husband, Emile. Annelise’s vibrancy and zeal provided a complement to his quiet and studious nature.
She was fiercely encouraging to her two daughters, Christine Hanley (John) and Natalie Avery (Jeremy), who since childhood, learned to back up their arguments with citable sources during the family’s frequent and spirited “dinner dictionary debates”. Her three grandchildren, Xavie, Maeve, and Felix, so far appear to have all inherited their Oma’s strong conviction in their opinions, and sense of right and wrong.
Though Annelise did love gardening and flowers, she would have been happier still to feed those in need. A donation to Hamilton Food Share would be a fitting way to honour her life & memory.
Friends and relatives are invited to a Gathering to Celebrate Annelise’s Life on Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 1-4 p.m. at KITCHING, STEEPE & LUDWIG FUNERAL HOME, 146 Mill St. N., Waterdown.
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November 16 1951
May 15 2023
Death notice for the town of: Waterdown, Province: Ontario
death notice Annelise Talbot November 16 1951
May 15 2023
obituaries notice Annelise Talbot November 16 1951
May 15 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Annelise Talbot November 16 1951
May 15 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
