Anita Luise Linnartz took her final breath on the morning of December 10, 2022 in Calgary, AB at the age of 87 years.
Anita was born on September 5, 1935 in Bavaria, Germany to her parents Carl and Maria. She was the second child of 11; older brother Karl, followed by Marlene, Harry, Eddie, Ottmar, Rainier, Olaf, Dagmar, Robert and Sylvia.
At 14 years old Anita had her first job at a sporting goods store. A particular customer came in one day looking for some boating accessories. Little did she know at the time that this man would become the love of her life.
Anita and Reinhold married on December 13, 1960 in a little chapel in Wiesbaden. She then proceeded to have her first child, a son Andreas. She was also a loving stepmother to Reinhold’s first son, Hans.
The decision to immigrate to Canada was influenced by her parents making the move prior. In 1965 they packed up their little family and made the arduous 3 week journey by boat to Montreal, ultimately ending up in Calgary where her parents were already residing. Not knowing much English, she attributed learning the language to watching “I love Lucy” episodes. Shortly after settling into Canadian life, Anita had two more children; a son Olaf, and finally a daughter Yvonne.
Not only did Anita exude style and grace in every aspect of her life, she had a knack for baking amazing cakes and tortes, and for making music on her accordion and the electronic
organ. A humble person, she would regularly downplay her many talents while always being incredibly warm and gracious to everyone she met.
A few years before Anita became a doting Oma to her beloved grandchildren, she was thrilled to learn about and embrace her half sister, Renate, from a previous relationship of her father.
Anita is survived by her siblings, Renate, Ottmar, Rainier, Robert and Sylvia; her stepson, Hans; her children, Andreas and Yvonne; and her grandchildren, Dylan and Liam.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to the
Alzheimer’s Society of Canada
or the
Alberta Cancer Foundation.