GARNER, Annette

Passed away peacefully at Bow Crest Care Center in Calgary, Alberta, on May 10, 2023. Annette was born at Cottage Hospital in Louth, England, on March 9, 1939, to her parents, Frederic Sydney Vamplew and Mery Agnes Vamplew. Despite her early childhood taking place during World War II and her father serving in Egypt with the Royal Air Force, Annette and her sister, June, report having a very happy childhood. In her early years Annette started to stutter but was greatly helped by a local elocution teacher Mrs. Moncaster. She attended Louth Girls Grammar School, where she received many academic awards, and went on to Leeds University where she studied history. Her first teaching post was at a primary school in Nottingham, England. After her marriage to Barry Garner, and the birth of their first child, Chris, they moved to Canada. First to Ottawa where they welcomed Nick to their family, then Newfoundland, where their youngest son, Dan was born, and then to Quebec, where Annette met her close friend Yvonne Williams. The family then relocated to Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, where Annette stayed until her retirement. As a single mother, Annette raised her three sons while working full time as an elementary school teacher. Annette worked at schools including North Preston Elementary, Atlantic View Elementary, where she was written about in the book called On Trial for her work with students, and Colby Village Elementary, where she had the pleasure of teaching Sidney Crosby. Annette was a fierce advocate for her students and believed that every child could and should be included in the classroom. She also believed strongly in students being exposed to the arts, and was involved in organising many school musicals, plays and performances, including arranging and playing the music, directing, making costumes and building sets. Annette was a woman of many talents. She sewed, crocheted, knit, painted, and could craft just about anything. She sold many of the things she created at local craft markets in NS and hosted many crafting clubs and activities with her friends and colleagues. She was a voracious reader and was generous in passing along books she had read to others she thought would enjoy them. She was active in her church and her community and had a large group of friends who enjoyed her company and provided her with support when needed, something much appreciated by her sons who lived on the other side of the country. In her retirement she moved to Calgary, AB, to be closer to her three sons, six grandchildren, and one step-grandchild. The decision to move was difficult for Annette, but it provided her with the opportunity to spend time with her family in her final years. Please visit Annette’s online obituary at Legacy.com to leave memories or fun stories. There will be a memorial service at Woodlawn United Church in Dartmouth, NS, on Thursday 8 June 2023 at 1:30 p.m.