Anne-Marie Weidler

Anne-Marie Weidler Kubanek died on April 7 at her home in Beaconsfield. She was the beloved wife of George who predeceased her in 2015, mother of Jan and Julia, mother-in-law of Tom Young and Rob Williams, and Farmor (Grandmother in Swedish) to Taylor and Victor.

Anne-Marie and her older sister Barbro were raised in a country schoolhouse near Åtvidaberg, Sweden by their parents Helga and Karl Weidler. Her childhood spent close to nature instilled a lifelong love of nature and outdoor activities, including cross-country skiing which she later introduced to her husband and children.

Anne-Marie studied chemistry at Uppsala University after which she spent an eye-opening year at Stanford University, working for the professor who developed the chemistry that led to the birth control pill. After returning to Sweden to earn her doctorate, she permanently moved to North America at age 26, first working in industrial research in New Jersey. There, she met George and together with their young children, moved to Baie d'Urfé in 1973.

She taught chemistry at Vanier and John Abbott Colleges and conducted research on women's experience in science. This career brought Anne-Marie many new friends, colleagues, and experiences including publishing a biography of Norwegian radiochemist Ellen Gleditsch. Her feminism was an inspiration to her family as was her support for LGBTQ+ and indigenous rights. Her daughter credits Anne-Marie with introducing her to activism with an abortion rights march in Montreal in 1989; but Anne-Marie always asserted that Julia started her mother down this path.

At Union Church (now, Merging Waters) in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Anne-Marie chaired the committee that led Union to be the first United Church congregation in Québec to affirm its commitment for the full participation of gays and lesbians including as ordained ministers.

Anne-Marie shared with her family a passion for music, reading, and walks in nature. She and George sang Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall as members of a choir, a feat that was repeated one generation later when Jan performed there. Their cottage at Lac Nantel in the Laurentians brought cherished memories across all seasons and a place of peace, especially in later years. She and George spent a delightful early retirement living part of each year in Eastham, Cape Cod where they played tennis, cycled, hiked, bird-watched, cultivated new friends, and welcomed old ones.

An introvert by nature, Anne-Marie was her most comfortable self one-on-one and in small groups. Yet she was also a skilled and enthusiastic dancer (sadly, a trait not shared with George) and a wonderful host and cook. Every home she ever created was warm, elegant, and welcoming with a beautiful garden. She connected deeply with her closest friends while also quietly making friends with people from all walks of life, many of whom have noted that she helped them during a difficult period in their lives.

A Memorial Service celebrating Anne-Marie's life will be held on Saturday May 24 at 4 pm at Merging Waters United Church, 24 Maple Avenue, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, H9X 2E6. There will be a reception following the service at 5 pm at the same venue. Donations in Anne-Marie's memory may be made to the Morgan Arboretum (mcgill.ca/morganarboretum/), Nova West Island (novawi.org/), or (Chez Doris (chezdoris.ca).