Anna Louie

Anna was born in Calgary, AB, to Keong and Kathy Louie in 1955. From the moment she was born, Anna brought much happiness to our mother and father. As a child, she was joyful, kind, smart, bubbly, fun-loving, mischievous, and thoughtful. Anna grew up in a bustling home alongside her sisters, Connie and Doreen, and her aunt and uncle, Lila and Albert, who were of similar age. Anna was like a younger sister to Lila and Albert. Together, Anna, Connie, Lila, Albert, and little Doreen got into much mischief—from playing with firecrackers indoors at the Canadian Café to sneaking Jello for breakfast before school, and even dropping Connie through the laundry chute.

In her youth, Anna was always a high achiever, determined to succeed in everything she set her mind on. She won Top Girls Athlete three years in a row in junior high school, consistently made the honour roll, and was beloved by all her teachers. Not only did she excel academically and athletically, but she also turned the skills she learned in home economics into lifelong hobbies—sewing beautiful dresses and Halloween costumes, knitting elaborate sweaters for her family, and cooking lavish meals for family and friends.

Anna graduated with a BSc from the University of Alberta and quickly decided that to secure a better job, she also needed to attain a diploma in Chemical Technology from SAIT. After a brief stint at Syncrude, she embarked on a 34-year career at the AER, where she worked in the oil department, contributing to some of the largest bitumen projects in Alberta. Anna loved her job at the AER, but more importantly, she loved the people. She touched many lives, forged lifelong friendships, and actively participated in group events such as curling, Flames hockey games in the nosebleed section, volunteering at the Drop-In Centre, charity bake sales, countless fundraisers, and more.

Anna had a passion for travel and an adventurous spirit that took her across Canada, the US, and to far-away destinations such as Africa, Asia, South America, Iceland, and all over Europe. She loved delving into history, thoroughly researching each destination before her travels, but her favourite place was always Greece, specifically Santorini, which she visited more than once. Along the way, she made numerous friends whom she joyfully hosted when they travelled to Canada. The walls of her home proudly displayed beautiful photos from her travels.

She especially enjoyed coordinating gatherings for the kids in our family. This included sleepovers, Flames games in winter and Cannons games in summer, group movie nights, trips to Calaway Park, early morning wake-ups for the Stampede parade, and entire days baking Christmas sugar cookies. Anna created many lasting memories with the kids, which became cherished family traditions that they carried into adulthood and passed down to their own children.

Known for parties featuring delicious homemade dishes and desserts, Anna's gatherings were never small, often catering to 40 to 60 people. She loved hosting events year-round, including Stampede Breakfasts, wine tastings, Thanksgiving, Easter, and, most importantly, Christmas Day dinners. Anna would always send her guests home with containers full of her delicious leftovers. Anna's culinary skills spanned the globe, and she fearlessly tackled every new culinary trend and gadget. She took great pride in creating a home with excellent food and great company, and we were all grateful for everything she did. Her absence at future gatherings will be keenly felt by everyone.

Above all, Anna was deeply devoted to her family. She was the eldest of five siblings—Connie, Doreen, Carl, and Shelley. Anna embraced her role as a leader in our family, and we looked up to her for making decisions whenever conflicts arose. She was encouraging, loving, unwaveringly supportive, and dependable. Whenever we needed help she was always the first to arrive and the last to leave. She took immense pride in our achievements but could also be refreshingly candid. Her sharp mind and knowledge of current events made our family dinner conversations both engaging and entertaining. During difficult times, we turned to Anna to lead tough discussions, trusting her implicitly to make hard decisions. She epitomized the essence of what it was to be an eldest sibling, a role she took seriously even amid our playful teasing, affectionately calling her "The Queen". Anna was an incredible sister, and her absence leaves a huge hole in our hearts.

Anna is survived by her siblings, Connie (Glyn), Doreen (Colin), Carl (Sandi), and Shelley (Brian); her nieces and nephews, Christa (Eric), Carly, Drew (Gabriela), Isabelle, Jordan, Bradley, Brenden, and Sydney; her Aunt Verna (Henry), Aunt Lila (Sam), and Uncle Albert (Christina), numerous cousins and their families, and a large extended family.

Anna loved to fundraise and donate her time to the following charities, Canadian Cancer Society and Calgary Drop-In Centre. For those who wish to do so, donations can be made to www.cancer.ca or www.calgarydropin.ca.

Anna made an impact on everyone she met, and she would have wanted us all to remember that she lived a happy and fulfilling life. A Celebration of Anna's Life will be held on Saturday, September 21st. For details please email [email protected]