ANNA MARIE GRAHAM

Just before midnight on Sept. 21, 2025, the spirit of Anna Marie Graham left this world. She was a beautiful lady, both inside and out, for all of her 97 years. The world was lucky to have had her for as long as it did.

Marie leaves behind a large and loving group of friends and family to remember and miss her. This includes her three daughters: Pam (Ross), Allison (Dennis) and Laura (Rob); as well as one son, Jim (Denise). She also leaves four strapping grandsons: Jordan, Eli (Lauren), Sam (Anna) and Alexander; two brothers, Bob (Jean) and Peter  (Maureen); also mourn her passing, as well as many more relatives and friends, too numerous to name. You know who you are, and we hope you also know you were as special to her as she was to you.

Marie’s beloved husband, Billy, went on ahead in 2007, just before their 50th anniversary. She is also predeceased by three brothers: Jim, Charlie (Onie), and Bill (Cora). We like to think that they are all together somewhere right now, toasting to her arrival!

Marie was born on a farm in Upper Falmouth, Nova Scotia in the “roaring 20s”, her dad’s “little flapper”. Along with her five brothers she grew up frolicking among apple orchards and rolling green fields, and has regaled listeners through the years with colourful stories of her youth. Throughout her life she would recite the names of the 18 counties of Nova Scotia, whenever the mood struck her!

Marie was an adventurous woman. In the early 50s, when most women her age were settling down, she decided that she wanted to see more of the world, so she joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. She was honoured to have been chosen as part of a small group of Canadian Air Women to travel by ship to England to march at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It was an unforgettable experience, and led to her lifelong interest in the Royal Family.

Marie was stationed in France when she met the love of her life, a young Air Force pilot named Bill Graham. After a whirlwind romance they returned to Canada to get married. The wedding took place in Upper Falmouth, and Marie and Bill began their married life at the farm of Bill’s parents near Saskatoon. Bill’s family members, friends and neighbours became a big part of her life.

Three daughters later, they moved to Winnipeg, and completed their family with the birth of their son, Jim. Rumour has it that Jim was her favourite, but since she told each one of her children that they were her favourite, no one will ever know for sure!

For the next two decades Marie was very busy taking care of her home and family. Raising four kids was loud, hectic, and kind of a “thankless job”, but Marie made sure the house was filled with love and laughter. She celebrated accomplishments, big and small, and commiserated when things didn’t go so well. Friends were always welcome, and the house was often full of them! Marie made the most delicious homemade bread that you could imagine, so good you couldn’t wait to break into it, even when it was still steamy hot! She also made delicious fudge, baked beans, and other tasty treats. She did, however, have a tendency to forget about pots boiling on the stove on occasion, leading to the frequent burning of potatoes, that everyone would try to eat, anyway.

Those were the days!

In the early 80s, Marie and Bill moved to Woodlawn Avenue. It was a lovely house with a huge yard, and even had a swimming pool! Marie truly loved this place and never wanted to leave it. The pool got a great deal of use over the years, and many a wild party was held there, some of which have become legend. Woodlawn became a family gathering spot for all the years to come. For Christmases, birthdays, anniversaries, retirements…even a wedding! The place was filled with lively conversation, wine and song. Marie was the hostess with the mostess, and everyone got a warm welcome to the Graham household.

Marie had always loved flowers and gardening, and her gorgeous lilacs and flower beds on Woodlawn really put that on display! As the years went by, the children left…but then grandchildren appeared on the scene. Having her grandsons over to visit always gave Marie a lot of joy. She loved them very much, and they loved her back.

Though Marie was kept pretty busy taking care of her home and family, she always did her best to attend church on a regular basis, and for much of her life she was a “Church Lady” extraordinaire. At St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church she was in the choir, on the Altar Guild, took part in bible study and volunteered to help with the food bank! She made many very good friends there.

After Bill retired, he and Marie found that they still had the travel bug, and wanted to escape the cold, so they bought a trailer and made trips to Nova Scotia, Arizona, Texas and Florida. How they loved the open road! They also took their trailer for a few days every July to The Winnipeg Folk Festival, attended by the whole family, and “kept the home fires burning” at the campsite while the rest of the family attended the festival. Though she really missed Bill on her adventures after he passed away, Marie was still able to escape the cold and snow with her daughters for many trips to Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Florida.

Marie lived happily in her beautiful home, with family always near, and many visitors, until health issues took her from her home, to Meadowood Manor, at the age of 94. The staff there were very kind and caring, and we will be forever grateful for the excellent care she received. She told us often that she was happy there… the best place she could be!

Marie will be remembered for her dark-haired beauty in youth, and for her bright red lipstick and shock of white hair in later years. 

She’ll be remembered for being a good listener and a confidant. She especially liked to hear about your “love life” or romance! You could tell her anything, and she’d be understanding and supportive. She was always on your side.

She’ll be remembered for her lively personality and how she loved a good party! She loved to be around people, laughing, being silly, and toasting with a glass of beer!

She’ll be remembered for her interesting stories of all of the many experiences she had in her long life. They won’t be forgotten, as her stories have become family stories, that will be told again and again.

She will be remembered for her raunchy sense of humour. She so loved to make people laugh! You had to be careful what you said, as she’d try to turn it into a dirty joke. Marie found the humour in everything.

She will be remembered for her love of music. It’s hard to imagine a gathering, big or small, that didn’t involve singing and harmonizing. It’s a tradition that the family will continue.

So, we bid a final farewell to 

Anna Marie Graham. 

Till we meet again!

A service to celebrate Marie’s life will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at Meadowood Manor Fellowship Hall, located on 577 St. Anne’s Road.

Marie’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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