Obituary of Anne Grasham

Anne Frances Grasham (Nee Furnivall) June 13, 1932 - October 23, 2010 Surrounded by loved ones at St Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Loving wife of the late Wilbur Grasham, mother to Cleone (Tim Burns), Rachel (the late Ian MacKay), and Thomas (Tharwat Awamleh), and Granny to Maya, Lucy, Abby and Michael. Anne is also survived by her sister Mary (Sally) Furnivall. Anne grew up in Bishop's Stortford, England and worked as a librarian before meeting Wilbur on an Aegean Cruise and moving to Canada for love, and to raise a family. There, she fully embraced Toronto as her home. Anne earned a diploma in library sciences at Ryerson, and a Worker in the Community certificate from George Brown College. She spent her life devoted to voluntarism and social advocacy, most proudly serving as President of the Deep Quong Non-Profit Housing project in downtown Toronto. She was very involved with the University Settlement, the University of Toronto Women's Association, and the Church of the Holy Trinity. Anne was a bibliophile who enjoyed learning and the arts. She had a mischievous sense of humour and delighted in swimming, her pottery, seeing films, and spending time with family and friends, especially at her beloved Cressy in Prince Edward County. Anne was a gentle, and sometimes shy soul who nonetheless pursued her passion for social justice with steely determination. She was compassionate and caring and responded to the needs of others with kindness, generosity and an open, welcoming heart. However, she could be fiendishly competitive when playing scrabble. Her sense of adventure always led her to try new things and make new friends. Anne took great delight in her grandchildren and was very well loved. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27. A funeral service will be held in the CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, 10 Trinity Square by the Eaton's Centre, Toronto on Saturday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m. Donations may be made in Anne's memory to the Covenant House or the charity of your choice.