Anne Calder HUGGINS

HUGGINS, Anne Calder (nee McPHERSON) Passed away in Pickering, Ontario on Saturday, November 4, 2017 in her ninetieth year. Wife of Jim Huggins (died 1996) and partner of Len Wells (died 2008). Devoted and loving Mother of Jim Huggins (Charlene Cryer, died 2016), Gary Huggins (Carla Small), Bob Huggins (Mary Ellen Dempster), Don Huggins (Tracey Ryan) and Lesley Whitwham (Roger). Grandmother to Kelly Cryer, Jim Huggins (Shannon), Whitney Dillon (Geoff), Lauren Huggins (Adam Ehrlich), Mairin Dempster-Huggins, Abby Huggins, Drew Huggins and Karley Whitwham. Great-grandmother to Logan Huggins and Lucas Cryer. Anne was one of seven children from a very poor family in Aberdeen, Scotland. To help support the family she started working at the age of 12. She came to Canada in 1945 as a 17 year-old war bride having married the love of her life, Jim Huggins. Jim was a Barnardo boy who had been sent to Canada as a 14 year-old to work on the farms, but returned to Britain in WWII with the 404 Squadron of the RCAF. They settled in Toronto, raising four boys and finally a girl. She and Jim worked hard and built their first home in North York, living in the basement until they had enough money to finish the rest. Mom worked all her life, starting initially at Eaton's making $16 per week, then various assembly type jobs until finally managing a restaurant in a Sayvette store. On retiring they moved to Peterborough and then to Pickering to be closer to their growing family. Scottish through and through, she was independent until the end living on her own surrounded by friends and family. Mom was a very active, resilient lady who we thought would live to 100. She could walk farther and faster than most of us, even wearing her little clickity heels. At a recent wedding in July she out danced everyone. She loved to play cards and make the occasional trip to Casino Niagara to try her luck. Most of all she loved her children and was proud of what they had accomplished in their lives. She had an incredible life. A reception in her honour will be held on Sunday, November 26th at 2 p.m. in the party room at 1880 Valley Farm Road, Pickering, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.