Trochta (nee Kwasnicki)
Passed Away: July 17th, 2023
Anna passed in Port Coquitlam, at the age of 91.
Anna was born in Bukovina, Romania in 1932 to parents Johanna and Johan. Her childhood was unsettled by moving from Romania to resettlement camps in Austria, Germany, and Silesia (both losing and separated from two of her three brothers). Her family eventually settled in Poland where she studied music and later worked as a store manager in Lidzbark Warminskii where she met her future husband, Ted. They immigrated to Canada in 1961 with their eldest son George residing first in Vancouver and then in Maple Ridge from 1977 until 2018.
Anna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She welcomed and opened her heart and home to so many. Devoted to family, she lived alongside her husband Tadeusz, for over 65 years and together they created a beautiful family. Anna is survived by her three children George (Brita), Dorothy (Guy), and John (Sandra), eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and six nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother, father, brother Louis, Adam (Nancy), August and her beloved husband Ted.
Together, they enjoyed country living and their large property where family and friends would gather each weekend and special occasions to eat, sing, and laugh together. Anna loved cooking, gardening, sewing, weaving, crocheting, singing, dancing, and taking care of her farm animals.
Most of all Anna loved her family, regularly hosting large gatherings including copious amounts of food that she cooked herself for days. She opened her door to all, especially spontaneous visits to share a cup of coffee or long chats, Christmas always included a friend or stranger that needed a place to go.
Anna was a resourceful and resilient woman. She survived the war, a serious accident, and more recently Covid twice. She never wasted anything and recycled far before it became standard practice. She had the most loving, fun-loving spirit, she was up to trying anything, foods, sports, games, and adventures.
She travelled the world, accompanying Ted on his project assignments to the U.S. and Canadian Cities where they would live for 2 years at a time. Also, re-visiting Romania, Poland, Germany, and the Philippines to see family.
Anna’s last few years of life were spent at Hawthorne Care Facility where the staff (who took care of her so well and gently) enjoyed her great sense of humour and lively wit. We will all miss her tremendously.
Celebration of Life to honour Anna on Friday, July 28, 2023, at 12:00 pm at Como Lake United Church, 535 Marmont St, Coquitlam, B.C.
I am so grateful to have had the privilege to grow up spending time at the home of Anna and Ted. So many fun and memorable moments. I remember in Point Grey at the age of 7 attending Dorothy’s amazing birthday parties, being mesmerized and jealous by the costumes that Anna had sewn for Dorothy, and spending time as a teenager at the farm house in Maple Ridge. I can still smell the delicious crepes on the griddle. It was always so comforting to know that I had the support of Anna and Ted. I take comfort now in knowing that the two are reunited and that I will always have Dorothy in my life to remind me of the wonderful memories. I feel so blessed to have had Anna be a part of my life. Rest in peace Anna.
Like so many my memories of Aunt Anna are filled with the ways she made events fun and special. Her unique way of inviting us into her life with unabashed enthusiasm and love. After visiting her at “the farm” we would leave filled up with her food, hilarious stories (along with the occasional intense one), maybe a trunk load of thrift store finds, but most of all her gratitude for paying her (and Ted) a visit. She would wave us out down the driveway, saying “You are beautiful” or “I love you!” These are words we don’t hear enough or are too shy to share, but not Aunt Anna. She was always ready to tell someone they were important and loved. She was a gem and condolences to our cousins in your loss.