Anne Elizabeth "Annabeth" Black

BLACK _ Anne Elizabeth "Annabeth" (nee Cote) October 9, 1946 - August 23, 2006 Annabeth passed away peacefully on the morning of Wednesday, August 23 after a valiant two year battle with cancer. She will be remembered lovingly by her husband David, sons Alan and Fraser, and daughters Morgan Weathington and Catherine Black. The joy and courage with which she faced life were present until the end. Born to Paul and Bette Cote in Vancouver General Hospital October 9, 1946, Annabeth is the eldest daughter of eight children. She is survived by her seven brothers and sisters and both parents. As a young woman Annabeth spent many happy summers at Harrison Lake with her much-loved Grandparents Dewey and Odessa Anderson. She began her schooling at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, attended Churchill High School and obtained her Bachelors Degree of Music Education at UBC where she met the love of her life, David Black. Her love of sailing and her love of David were fostered at Camp Norwester on Lopez Island, where together they began their navigation of life as a couple. Moving to London, Ontario in 1970 in their first year of marriage Annabeth commuted sixty miles through the snow-belt to teach at St. David's Middle School in Waterloo while David finished his business degree. The young couple moved to Toronto's Algonquin Island where their twin sons Alan and Fraser and daughter Morgan were born. Annabeth would often be seen toting her children through icy storms with a smile on her face barely concealed by a thick scarf. After purchasing their first newspaper The Williams Lake Tribune they relocated to Williams Lake, B.C., where daughter Catherine soon arrived. A city girl at heart, Annabeth took to the small town and made many life long friends including "The Bread Making Ladies". Annabeth helped David to build and run Black Press and, as the company grew, they eventually relocated to Victoria. Annabeth spent many years working on the boards of Parks and Recreation Oak Bay and the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, but she especially loved working on the Board of Pearson College, where her love of life and boundless energy and compassion proved to be perfectly suited for her work with young adults from all over the world. A mother of four and mentor of many, her spirit will live forever in the hearts of all who knew her, for she was truly one of a kind. A service will celebrate Annabeth's life at 2:00 pm on September 6th at St. Patrick's Parish on Haultain Street in Victoria. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Victoria Hospice, 1510 Fort St., Victoria, V8S-5J2, or your local Hospice organization.