In Memory of
Anne
Squire (Park)
Squire (Park)
1920 - 2017
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Hulse, Playfair & McGarry
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Obituary for Anne Squire (Park)
ANNE MARGUERITE SQUIRE, OCTOBER 17, 1920 – APRIL 24, 2017
It is with great sadness we announce the death of Anne Squire BA, MA, DD (hon.), LLD (hon.) in her 97th year. She will be deeply missed by her three daughters, Fran (Ken), Lauri, and Marni (Michael) and five grandchildren Caitlin, Matthew, Graeme (Melissa), Meredith, and James. Anne was predeceased six months ago by her dearly loved husband, Bill, with whom she shared a life for 73 years.
Anne was a highly respected educator, writer and social activist whose religious home was the United Church of Canada. She served as Moderator from 1986 to1988, the first lay woman leader elected to this highest office. Until her death she championed projects that would make the church more radically inclusive, more feminist, more responsive to multi-faith opportunities, and more welcoming to members of the LGBTQ community and lay ministry.
She received honorary degrees for her trailblazing work by McGill University (DD,1980), Queen’s University (DD,1985), and Carleton University (LLD, 1988) and was a recipient of the Senate medal, Carleton University (1972).
Anne was born in Amherstburg, Ontario and taught public school before marrying Bill in 1943. She devoted herself to family and church, and with her notorious self-discipline and hard work, she turned this time in her life into one of growth and service. She became a Christian Education Leader, enthusiastically implementing the new curriculum. She introduced the Explorer program to Emmanuel United and directed summer camps for girls at her beloved Camp Bitobi in Quebec. Later, after completing her MA in 1975, Anne taught at Carleton University in the Religious Studies and Womens’ Studies programs. In her own words, she was ‘stunned’ by her appointment as Chair of Project Ministry (1977-1980), and it was during this time that she began to employ the feminist bows in her quiver and to work courageously toward implementing a “Ministry of the Whole People.”
Anne had a busy, busy life. She provided leadership at Queen’s Theological College on the Board of Managers (1980-1985), in the United Church as General Secretary in the Division of Ministry Personnel and Education (1982-1985) and Chair of the Interchurch/Interfaith Committee (1988-1992). Her affiliations were wide-ranging. She chaired the Service Advisory Committee of the Ottawa Carleton Palliative Care Association (1993-1998), was a founding member of the Ottawa Muslim/Christian Dialogue Group, and a proud patron of the Multifaith Housing Initiative. For the Lay School of Theology, she designed courses that reflected her own research interests in theology and philosophy. Most recently, she represented the United Church as a witness in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission proceedings.
Emmanuel United Church was at the heart of Anne’s spiritual life, and last month she was thrilled to move the motion for Emmanuel to become an Affirming congregation. Intellectually and socially active well into her 90s, Anne participated with Bill in the Snow Star Institute of Religion and Emmanuel’s own ‘Heretics’ study group which provided her with a challenging reading list up until she died.
Anne’s life was full of generous acts, and she was truly the mistress of all the household arts: entertaining, baking, knitting, gardening. She never forgot a birthday and always celebrated those around her. She looked forward so much to the birth of her first great-grandchild in June.
After a stroke in 2015, Anne gracefully learned to rely on others to live a meaningful life. Her family wishes to say thank you to her caregivers at Oak Park Retirement Residence, Retire-at-Home, and the Perley (PRVHC). She called you her angels.
To celebrate her inspiring life, a memorial service is planned for 2:00 pm on May 4th, 2017 at Emmanuel United Church, 691 Smyth Rd. More information at http://www.hpmcgarry.ca/. Donations in her memory can be made through the Multifaith Housing Initiative www.multifaithhousing.ca , the Emmanuel United Church Innovation fund www.emmanuelunited.ca , or a charity of choice.
It is with great sadness we announce the death of Anne Squire BA, MA, DD (hon.), LLD (hon.) in her 97th year. She will be deeply missed by her three daughters, Fran (Ken), Lauri, and Marni (Michael) and five grandchildren Caitlin, Matthew, Graeme (Melissa), Meredith, and James. Anne was predeceased six months ago by her dearly loved husband, Bill, with whom she shared a life for 73 years.
Anne was a highly respected educator, writer and social activist whose religious home was the United Church of Canada. She served as Moderator from 1986 to1988, the first lay woman leader elected to this highest office. Until her death she championed projects that would make the church more radically inclusive, more feminist, more responsive to multi-faith opportunities, and more welcoming to members of the LGBTQ community and lay ministry.
She received honorary degrees for her trailblazing work by McGill University (DD,1980), Queen’s University (DD,1985), and Carleton University (LLD, 1988) and was a recipient of the Senate medal, Carleton University (1972).
Anne was born in Amherstburg, Ontario and taught public school before marrying Bill in 1943. She devoted herself to family and church, and with her notorious self-discipline and hard work, she turned this time in her life into one of growth and service. She became a Christian Education Leader, enthusiastically implementing the new curriculum. She introduced the Explorer program to Emmanuel United and directed summer camps for girls at her beloved Camp Bitobi in Quebec. Later, after completing her MA in 1975, Anne taught at Carleton University in the Religious Studies and Womens’ Studies programs. In her own words, she was ‘stunned’ by her appointment as Chair of Project Ministry (1977-1980), and it was during this time that she began to employ the feminist bows in her quiver and to work courageously toward implementing a “Ministry of the Whole People.”
Anne had a busy, busy life. She provided leadership at Queen’s Theological College on the Board of Managers (1980-1985), in the United Church as General Secretary in the Division of Ministry Personnel and Education (1982-1985) and Chair of the Interchurch/Interfaith Committee (1988-1992). Her affiliations were wide-ranging. She chaired the Service Advisory Committee of the Ottawa Carleton Palliative Care Association (1993-1998), was a founding member of the Ottawa Muslim/Christian Dialogue Group, and a proud patron of the Multifaith Housing Initiative. For the Lay School of Theology, she designed courses that reflected her own research interests in theology and philosophy. Most recently, she represented the United Church as a witness in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission proceedings.
Emmanuel United Church was at the heart of Anne’s spiritual life, and last month she was thrilled to move the motion for Emmanuel to become an Affirming congregation. Intellectually and socially active well into her 90s, Anne participated with Bill in the Snow Star Institute of Religion and Emmanuel’s own ‘Heretics’ study group which provided her with a challenging reading list up until she died.
Anne’s life was full of generous acts, and she was truly the mistress of all the household arts: entertaining, baking, knitting, gardening. She never forgot a birthday and always celebrated those around her. She looked forward so much to the birth of her first great-grandchild in June.
After a stroke in 2015, Anne gracefully learned to rely on others to live a meaningful life. Her family wishes to say thank you to her caregivers at Oak Park Retirement Residence, Retire-at-Home, and the Perley (PRVHC). She called you her angels.
To celebrate her inspiring life, a memorial service is planned for 2:00 pm on May 4th, 2017 at Emmanuel United Church, 691 Smyth Rd. More information at http://www.hpmcgarry.ca/. Donations in her memory can be made through the Multifaith Housing Initiative www.multifaithhousing.ca , the Emmanuel United Church Innovation fund www.emmanuelunited.ca , or a charity of choice.