Anna Patricia Warrington (née Goff) died on May 9, 2009 at the age of 94. She was born in 1915 in Selkirk, Manitoba to Mary and William Vince Barnard Goff. After graduating from high school, she worked at odd jobs, and then, during the war years, became a supervisor of the Jewish Orphanage in Winnipeg. For a few years in the early 1950s she worked as the coordinator for a travelling theatre group. From 1954 to 1966, after counsellor training at the University of Manitoba and St. Paul’s University in Minnesota, she became a supervisor at the Manitoba Home for Girls in Winnipeg. In 1967 she and her husband, Tom Warrington, moved west to Courtenay, B.C. Anna’s mother accompanied them, and Anna cared for her until her death in 1974. In 1975 Anna and Tom chose Salt Spring Island as their retirement home. Anna participated in many community activities: the reading program at the Elementary school, the Music and Munch series, theatre outings, bowling league, bridge and mah jong. She was a proud and long-time member of the IODE where she was secretary of the local chapter for some time. She was also involved in Seniors Group, and the Seniors Peer Counselling Group, serving on their Board of Directors. She and Tom enjoyed their opera trips to Vancouver, and they travelled each year, visiting family throughout Canada, and taking tours to the States, England, and the Orkney Islands, her maternal ancestral home.
Anna was predeceased by her husband in 1994 and by two sisters (Dorothy Way and Edith Sinclair) and two brothers (Barney Goff and Haig Goff). She is survived by her sister, Vivian, and brother-in-law, Bob Campbell (Ottawa), niece Linda Robbins and god-daughter, Elizabeth Robbins (Vancouver), and nieces and nephews, Barbara Way; Lynne, god-daughter Louise, Ralph Sinclair; Karen, Dennis, Brenda, Vince Goff; Ken, Cheryl Goff, Neil, Greg Campbell; and their families. Her family loved and admired her for her individuality, her eagerness to take on new adventures, her energy, and her jesting, or what was affectionately known in the family as the “Goff” sense of humour. She took great joy in her family connections and became a wonderful source of family history.
Anna will be remembered by family and friends for her active community spirit, her interest in people, her sense of humour, and her steady, positive nature. She firmly believed that she could not have found a happier place for her retirement than on Salt Spring Island where she felt blessed by the support and comfort of her friends. The family wishes to express their appreciation to her many friends who visited and cared for her, including her new friends at Braehaven. Special thanks to Josée and Robert Crossland, Dorothy and Dr. Fred Waugh, Sheila and Sam Pebbles, and Sharon Glover. Anna was grateful for the care of Dr. Barclay, the staff at Lady Minto Hospital, her care-givers and the staff at Braehaven. Anna would often say of her various friends and helpers, “He’s a good chap,” or “She’s a very nice gal.” And so was she.
At her request there will be no public funeral. Please join us for a celebration of her life Sunday, May 17 at 2:30 at Braehaven.