Anne Melville Burt

Anne Melville Burt was a force of nature. Born in 1924, she lived to be 101.7 years of age. Sharp, witty, charming, gracious, optimistic, and happy, she was a gal who never complained and always saw the glass as half-full.

In her eyes, her four children could do no wrong, even when they did. She loved her family more than anything. She also loved the Toronto Blue Jays (Encarnacion in particular), Justin Bieber whom she called "the Biebs", ginger ale, ping pong, badminton, singing (she even made her own record), Dubonnet on the rocks (when that was a thing), and crossword puzzling. In fact, before Google, you could call Anne at any time of day or night to verify your own or your opponent's Scrabble submission. Anne was a night owl, who loved late night shows, current events, and Hollywood gossip. She always knew what was going on. Even when she couldn't really hear or see anymore, she would somehow know when the Biebs dropped a new album.

Anne was also a beauty, inside and out. Just a little lipstick and a hairband and ta-da, she was ready to shine. Her smile was infectious and her laugh, loud and contagious. She loved to crack jokes and where she came up with some of those one-liners, was beyond. While we were growing up, Anne always made our friends feel at home. The house was hopping, with our friends constantly coming by for visits, snacks, or an egg salad sandwich. We were all very proud to have her as our mom.

Anne was generous and she was a wonderful listener. You could call her up at any time, day or night, and she'd listen. Guaranteed...you would always feel better after talking with Anne. She lifted people up. She never put anyone down (except for her husband Dave, who deserved it).

Anne was born in Ottawa on January 30th, 1924. Her parents, Hazel and Robert, moved from Ottawa to Welland several years later, where her dad, Robert, was a successful lawyer. Anne loved her small-town life until she went to Toronto for her grade 13 year at Branksome Hall. There she got a taste of life in the big city, and spent her university years at Trinity College, University of Toronto. Anne loved living in Toronto and stayed there for the rest of her life. Toronto was her city and she was a proud Canadian.

During WW2, Anne participated in the war effort by driving a pick- up truck and picking up steel donations. Little did she know that she would soon meet her husband, Dave Burt, a lieutenant in the Navy, after the war ended. They both ended up at Osgoode Hall Law School (Anne was one of the few women in the class). Anne and Dave met in their first year of law school and were married by the beginning of that summer.

Things got very busy for Anne, raising four children-David, Judith, Barbara and Lori. Anne, as an only child, was also now making daily visits to see her widowed mother, who relocated to Toronto, and was bedridden with Multiple Sclerosis. With all of these responsibilities, Anne also shone in her volunteering roles, including roles at The Hospital for Sick Children, Big Sisters, The Dellcrest Centre, and as a Board Member at Belmont House. Anne, all the while, continued to be an active member of the University Women's Club.

After Dave-Anne's husband of over 50 years-passed away, she and her friends started the "Ladies Who Lunch Club". Anne was the chauffeur and designated driver (she was the only one who still had a driver's license). The group would meet regularly to explore and sample the menus at all of the wonderful restaurants in Toronto. Anne was a food enthusiast before the term "foodie" even existed. She was also vibing with Pinot Grigio before the rest of us caught on.

Anne loved spending time at the Cricket Club. It was a home away from home for her, where she would play bridge, lawn bowl, and have fun meals with her family. The staff at the Cricket Club still ask about her and remember her fun and generous ways. Always an avid learner, she continued taking courses at Glendon College and she loved being a part of the North Toronto Historical Society.

Anne lived on her own until she was 90, and then moved into the Briton House, first enjoying her cute apartment on the 4th floor, and when necessary, moving to the care and attention of the 8th floor. She was comfortable and happy there, continuing on with grace and kindness toward her caregivers and fellow residents.

Anne lived a life filled with laughter and love. Her legacy, beyond 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren (so far), is to demonstrate how to live life with an open heart, to be generous, to listen, to have empathy, to be kind to strangers and ask people questions and be interested in what they answer. Anne also demonstrated how to not judge but accept, to admire, to tell jokes, and to laugh. If there is one thing that stands out about Anne Melville Burt's legacy, it is to always remember to laugh.