Cairns, Ann Miller passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 6th, 2021 in Vancouver, BC at the age of 71. Ann was predeceased by her father (Peter), mother (Theresa), and brother (John).
Ann is survived by 2 brothers and 3 sisters: Peter, Mary, Elizabeth, David, and Theresa. She also left behind her nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews along with numerous cousins and their families. In addition, she shall be remembered and missed by her many circles of friends from all over the world, especially in her second homeland of Canada and particularly in Vancouver.
As expressed by her eldest brother Peter and the family: Ann was a unique person. Her intellectual aptitude had enabled her in her early life to achieve the pinnacles of business life, the acme of which was to be Executive Assistant to the Principal of McGill University, who went on to become Governor General of Canada.
However, she also had the capacity to excel in many other fields. She had many creative aspects, being an accomplished seamstress who could use complex vogue patterns, quite daunting to those of us who dabbled. She made her youngest sister’s wedding outfit and transported it to Scotland. Art in all of its forms was always of interest to Ann. She enjoyed and became actively involved in gallery exhibitions and in the historical community life of Vancouver. Art classes and craft classes became an integral part of her life in recent years, and she took many classes in a wide variety of subjects at the Simon Fraser Lifelong Learning Initiative.
Music was always a strand of her life and there she had an eclectic taste. Whilst in Scotland, she attended jazz concerts with her younger brother on many occasions. She purchased a keyboard very recently with the intention of expanding her repertoire but sadly this was not to be realised.
Ann loved the outdoors, hence her fellowship with the walking club in Vancouver. During family visits we all walked, Vancouver being explored by street and area by area!! Her love of nature introduced us to the nearby nesting herons in Stanley park and on the waters of the Lost Lagoon. We admired with her the beautiful rose-beds in the park as well as the beautiful floral displays in gardens and flower beds as we walked the streets.
Small gatherings of friends and family were happy occasions with much laughter and delicious food. We shall never forget on her brother’s 60th birthday her cooking the large wild Sockeye salmon which was avidly consumed by all.
Ann loved to travel and had friends from countries far and wide around the world. She was fluent in French but also explored Italian and Spanish. Most recently on her last visit to Europe she covered France from coast to coast, at times accompanied by her friend, Nicole. In Scotland she travelled by train extensively as well as joining us in our cottage on the shores of Loch Tay. Visiting her school friends in Renfrewshire was always a priority. For Ann her family was always important; thus, when she was in Britain, the railway lines burned hot with trips to Suffolk, Hayling Island and Glasgow.
In August 2019, her eldest brother and youngest sister with their partners were so glad to have been able to spend time with Ann for her 70th birthday, when they visited from Scotland and England. Her youngest sister is heartbroken at her loss, as they were in daily contact. They kept up to date not only with her treatment but also with the wonderful distractions of meeting friends for coffee, going to the Sylvia, keeping up with her many interests and, of course, getting her hair cut!
Ann had a special soft spot in her heart for her nieces, nephews, great nephews, and great nieces whose ages range from 4 weeks to 39 years. They all loved her in return. There are family and friends in Winnipeg, New York, Montreal, Hawaii, England, Scotland, and South Africa, to name but a few of those who are grieving for Ann at this time. Soon we shall celebrate with a treasured bank of memories.
What a life! She never gave up. What strength to endure the slings and arrows of her illness, helped along by “a little help from her friends” (as the Beatles used to say)!! She is at Peace now. Our lives will be the emptier without her.
A Celebration of Life shall be held later this summer.