Anne Mary Smyth

“Did I catch you at a bad time?” That’s how Anne Smyth usually began her phone calls. Always thoughtful and considerate, she wanted to make sure she wasn’t causing any inconvenience. And call she did – to let you know she was thinking of you, to ask how you were doing, or to provide breaking news that a storm was coming and you should stock up on batteries and candles.

Anne loved connecting with the important people in her life and letting them know how much they meant to her – right up until she passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family. Her strong faith, and her devoted family, sustained Anne into her 90th year.

Born Anna Giovanna Maria Giannini Veri, Anne lived a life of courage, conviction and kindness. Her smile could light up a room – and so could her trademark lasagna. As a young girl growing up on Euclid Avenue in Toronto’s Little Italy, she dreamed of being a dancer, and in the 1940s and ’50s, Anne and her brothers would show off their jive and jitterbug moves. It’s no surprise she met her first love, Bernie Smyth, at a church dance, and they’d eventually marry and have four children together. After the couple parted ways 12 years later, Anne drew on all her inner strength to re-enter the workforce as a switchboard operator at Bell Canada, Simpsons, then Imperial Oil, where she worked for many years until her retirement. A born communicator, Anne loved her job. It allowed her to get to know everyone in the company and set up unannounced conference calls between herself, her kids, and a range of “surprise guests.”

Anne knew how to keep everyone on their toes. Her love of new communication technology continued throughout her life, and she became an email dynamo on her iMac, and used her tablet to borrow books from the library and play her favourite word games.

She shared her love of reading – and writing – with her children and grandchildren, and wrote beautiful short stories and powerful letters to the editor, hundreds of which were published over the years in local and national newspapers.

Anne’s huge heart, empathy and fierce loyalty led her to win awards for her volunteering and public service. A lifelong learner, over the years, Anne attended interfaith Bible study and took classes in writing, public speaking, yoga, auto mechanics, even belly dancing! Anne pursued a wide range of interests during her long, full life, including weekly Scrabble and dice games with friends, crocheting, watercolour painting, cooking, baking, making her own liqueur, and much more.

Her natural curiosity, passion for causes important to her, sharp wit and lively mind made her a challenging debater and sparkling conversationalist. She loved hearing people’s stories and sharing her own. Her home became a place of refuge, where her friends and relatives, and her family’s friends, always felt at ease and knew they’d be welcomed if they needed a safe space to stay.

Anne was predeceased by her beloved son, Martin; her parents, Maria and Eusebio; elder brothers Nicholas, Anthony and Peter; and former husband, Bernie. She is survived by her daughters, Deborah (Guy), Theresa, and Stephana (Michael); her grandchildren – Spencer (Lovely), Nelson and Melissa – great-grandchildren, Elijah, George and Amelia, and treasured nieces and nephews and their families. Anne also leaves behind a loyal group of friends and neighbours who deeply feel her loss. Many thanks to the wonderful healthcare professionals on the Scarborough General Hospital Palliative Care Team who cared for Anne both in hospital and, in her final days, at her home, where she most wanted to be. Special thanks to Dr. Stephanie Cheon, Andy, Gemma, Gabrielle, and the whole team.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Salvation Army or Scarborough Health Network Foundation would be most appreciated.

The family suggests that those attending the visitation and/or the funeral wear red or a red accessory, if possible, in honour of Anne’s favourite colour. Thank you!

• Visitation: On Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., family and friends are welcome to attend the visitation at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home, 4115 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough.

• Funeral: On Friday, October 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., a funeral Mass will take place at St. Boniface Church (142 Markham Road, just north of Kingston Road on Markham, Scarborough, ON) with a small reception immediately following the Mass in the St. Boniface church hall (lower level).

• Burial: A burial will follow the Mass at Christ the King Catholic Cemetery (7770 Steeles Ave. E., Markham, ON L6B 1A8).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be made through www.giffenmackscarborough.com