Ann Swain (nee Berger)
December 14, 1937 to April 10, 2009
With heavy hearts we wish to announce the passing of Ann Swain on April 10th, with family at her side.
We have lost a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many.
She now rests in peace after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Predeceased in England by her parents Alice & Alfred Berger, she will be lovingly remembered by her husband Bob, son Paul (Deb), daughter Nicola and 3 grandsons Kristopher, Braeden & Aleksander, as well as many relatives in South Africa, Australia, South America, Germany & Switzerland.
Ann was born in Berlin, Germany on December 14, 1937 and spent her early years living on the outskirts of London, England, later attending Sydenham High School for Girls. In March 1957 she entered the school of Nursing at King’s College Hospital. This was the perfect career for her loving and caring personality. While at King’s she met and married Dr Bob Swain, enjoying 48 years of happy marriage.
Ann & Bob emigrated to Canada in 1965 to Eckville in central Alberta where Bob was able to enjoy using both his surgical and GP skills. She adapted to the close-knit welcoming lifestyle of a small prairie town with ease, becoming involved with setting up the local hospital auxiliary and serving on the Anglican Church vestry. She became an avid supporter of the local hockey team, learned to curl, and enjoyed all aspects of prairie living, forging friendships that endured for the rest of her life.
The family settled in Nanaimo in 1975, their home ever since. Ann loved the outdoors, boating, sailing, gardening, walking & tennis, and was a faithful worker for Meals on Wheels. Travel was another passion and this included many trips to Greece, south Africa, the UK and Europe.
Ann was always ready to help anyone in trouble or need. She had a great sense of humour and will be missed by so many, young and old.
We wish to thank Dr. Thom Davies, the staff at the Cancer Clinics in Nanaimo & Victoria, and the Community Home Care nurses Linda, Kathy and Terry for all the help that has been provided.
We also wish to thank all the many friends who constantly sent cards, flowers and goodies. There have been many acts of kindness from our St. Paul’s family, friends and neighbours over the last number of years. Ann was always overwhelmed by the outpouring of love people showed her.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:30 pm on Sunday, April 19th at the St Paul’s Anglican Church.
In lieu of flowers her request was for donations to be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation.