Obituary of Anne Rhoades Farquharson
Anne passed away peacefully on Monday, October 18, 2021, with family at her side, having lived her life to the fullest even through the limitations of advancing scleroderma.
Anne was born in Asheville, North Carolina and attended The Madeira School, Virginia and Wellesley College, Massachusetts. While working on her Master’s degree in German at the University of California, Berkeley, she met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Farquharson.
They moved to Toronto when Bob got a job teaching at the University of Toronto and spent the rest of their years anchored in city life while spending weekends and many summers at their farm in Mansfield, Ontario.
Anne had a keen intellect and insatiable curiosity, doing nothing by halves. Over the years she joined and championed countless campaigns and causes. Her commitment to social justice and deep care and concern for the earth shaped her activism, but Anne was always willing to step up and tackle whatever she felt needed to be done – whether organizing a section of the Deer Park United Church Bazaar, leading the pastoral care team at Bloor Street United Church, weekly tending of the Ecology Garden or joining a blockade to stop clear-cutting in Temagami.
Anne was attuned to beauty in its fullest sense and took her passion for language and the arts as seriously as her activism. An active member of French and German groups and book and movie clubs, Anne took particular delight in attending the ballet, with her tastes ranging from the classics through to cutting-edge modern and experimental works. She had a keen eye and a talent for expressing herself in poetic and often unexpected ways, as when she spoke of her “full dance card” of medical appointments.
Throughout her life, Anne prized her friends and family, continually nurturing close and meaningful relationships in Toronto and around the world. She made friends for life in every community she was part of and had a special and unique relationship with every member of her extended family. She took joy in hosting them, and family and friends knew that her table was always a feast for all the senses – nourishing, delicious, companionable and always worthy of a picture.
Anne leaves behind her three children, Rob (Betty), Elizabeth (Peter) and Laura (Blair); grandchildren, Nathan (Elisabeth), Daniel (Dominique), Christine, Ben, Emily, Clara and Ry; great-grandchildren, Theo and Emi; brother, Bill and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Bob earlier this year. We will miss her dearly, but her indomitable and deeply caring spirit, graciousness, and dedication to her communities will continue to inspire us.
Anne was greatly assisted in a peaceful passing by several personal support workers from Smart Staffing Solutions, the Temmy Latner Center for Palliative Care and the wonderful staff at Christie Gardens. Donations to the Toronto Scleroderma Program (at supportsinai.ca/memory or by calling 416-586-8203), or to the organization of your choice will be warmly welcomed.
A virtual memorial service will be held on November 6th at 11:00. Details can be found at www.humphreymiles.com, where condolences may also be left.
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