February 8, 1939 – January 6, 2020
Anne passed away at the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital surrounded by her loving family.
Survived by David, her husband, of 58 years; her four children, Heather (Steve Ladouceur), Andrew (Ruth Hicks), Alexandra (Michael Ruddy), and Ellen; twelve grandchildren, Jonathan (Rebecca Stanley), Nicholas (Lorie-Anne Dumont), and Christopher (Rachel Winter-Harstone) Ladouceur; Richard (Emma Gray), Gwyneth, Hannah, and Kiersten Robison; Ezekiel, Malachi, and Jonah Ruddy; Cody and Alexander Robison; and her first great-granddaughter, Eleanor Anne Ladouceur. She is also survived by her brother, Harold (Barbara) Merklinger of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
The daughter of the Reverend Harold Adam Merklinger (a Lutheran clergyman) and Norma (Lewerenz), Anne was born in North Vancouver. Her adventurous life, living and travelling Canada and the world, began at an early age when her father became a chaplain in the Canadian Army in 1942. She progressed through sixteen elementary and secondary schools, finishing at Soest (West Germany) Madschen’s Gymnasium. In 1961, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Mathematics from Queen’s University. It was during her studies at Queen's that she met her future husband, David, then an Officer-Cadet and aspiring naval officer, then studying at the Royal Military College
She accepted a position at the Naval Research Establishment in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where she worked with a research group analyzing underwater acoustical data using computers for which she wrote her own software. The group was involved in conducting experiments and research at sea, and Anne was proud to have been at the forefront of women being able to participate fully in this work at sea as well as in shore laboratories.
After more than a decade, Anne opted for a career change. She returned to university, obtained a Master of Library Science degree, and began a second career as a librarian. She worked first in government libraries and then in public libraries in Ottawa, where she was able to put her experience with computers to use as libraries moved into the digital age.
After her retirement from the active workforce, Anne continued her love of library work, volunteering in libraries, helping in a bookshop, and enjoying her book club. She enjoyed the arts, especially choral music and opera. She and David particularly enjoyed their retirement time to travel, having visited some 35 countries since her retirement.
Anne was engaged with her church from an early age and was active at all levels, from student groups, congregational life, and in leadership at congregational level through area and synod to national level.
Anne's family wish thank all in the community who helped Anne to be safely on her way; to the clergy and members of Martin Luther Church, to her many physicians as well as nursing staff at the Ottawa Hospital, to our neighbours and Anne's former work colleagues, and many others too numerous to name and whose name we may not know.
Friends are invited to the West Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Avenue (at Richmond), Ottawa on Friday, January 17 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with the funeral at Martin Luther Church, 933 Smyth Road, Ottawa on January 18 at 1:30 p.m. A reception will follow in the church hall.
The family requests that there be no flowers. Those who wish may make a donation to Martin Luther Church, Ottawa or a charity of their choice.