Skip to content

Anne Mary Philippson (nee Racich)

October 31, 2021

B2B5I8P9-20211112092424
May 29, 1931 - October 30, 2021
Anne was born in 1931 to immigrant parents in Princeton, BC. Her early depression-era experiences fostered the skills and attitudes to become the person others relied on. She was frugal, resourceful, intelligent and conscientious.
Anne's birth in Princeton triggered a list of "firsts": the first generation of her family to be born in Canada; the first of three siblings, who all worked diligently to do endless farm and household chores; the first to go to school and learn to read and write English; and the first to graduate.
She was the first to bravely move away from her close-knit family to join husband Jerry for a future in Chemainus and now, sadly, she is the first of her siblings to pass away.
Jerry and Anne met at a pick-up baseball game. Anne was skeptical that this young man was in fact a medical student—maybe, she thought, it was just a ruse intended to impress. Their courtship became a marriage in 1954 and they lived in Burnaby while Jerry completed his medical training and internship.
After graduation, and with 2 children in tow, they moved to Chemainus where they welcomed a third child and, over the next 60 years, made a good life in this small town.
Friends and family remember Anne for her kindness, for her sense of humour, and for her repertoire of wonderful recipes ranging from traditional Slavic pastries to curious delicacies of the '60s and '70s (and yes, that includes green jellied salads). People appreciated her style, her athleticism and her playful ways with children. She was a talented seamstress, floral artist and crafter, and a devoted member of the Chemainus Hospital Auxiliary—she took quiet pride in being awarded a life membership after 50+ years of service.
Anne and Jerry recently relocated to Comox where they made new friends and soon became known for their hospitality and congeniality. Anne struggled with vision loss and health problems, and passed away suddenly after a short stay at Cumberland Lodge. She is survived by Jerry, her loving husband of 67 years, three children, 12 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, as well as her sisters Kay and Manda.
Donations to the Chemainus Health Care Auxiliary or to a charity of choice are most welcome. The family hopes friends remember Anne with a smile and a reflection on the meaning of friendship and service.
No memorial service at this time.


obits