Obituary for Annie Wright (Todd)

Annie  Wright (Todd)
March 28, 1922 - May 25, 2020

We are heartbroken to share that our Mom, Annie died peacefully at the Élisabeth Bruyère Residence, Ottawa, Ontario on May 25th, 2020 in her 99th year. Mom was predeceased by her beloved husband of 44 years, Lloyd Elroy Wright (1997); brother Edward Todd (1980); mother Ann, nee Fleming (1983) and; father William James Todd (1962).

She will be lovingly remembered by her surviving daughters, Deborah (Andrew) Chaplin, of Ottawa, and Marlene (Robert) Luscombe of Lanark Highlands, two beloved grand-children, Valerie Ann Luscombe, Jeffrey Robert (Amanda) Luscombe, and one great-grand-daughter, Lily Ann, as well as her dear brother, Alexander Todd (Ottawa), five nieces, and four nephews.

Annie was born in Belfast, Ireland, and came to Canada in 1924, at the age of 2. She grew up in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, with her two brothers Edward, and Alexander. As a young woman, she worked in retail, William Notmans Photography Studio, in Montreal, an insurance firm, in San Francisco, and Toronto Hydro. While working in Toronto, she met and married her husband, Lloyd Elroy Wright in 1953. They began their life in Montreal where they had their two daughters. They moved to Ottawa in 1966 and called Riverside Park home until she moved to a seniors' residence in the Hunt Club area in 2009, followed by a move to the Élisabeth Bruyère Residence, Long Term Care facility in 2017 where she spent her final years, navigating the complex world of dementia.

Our mom was a devoted wife, loving mother, a confidante, and friend who will be remembered for so many things; her sense of humour, an artist, dancer, skier, swimmer, movie lover, and a talented seamstress. She made clothes for herself, as well as her children (we were not appreciative). She was an avid reader of The Ottawa Citizen, true crime, love stories of the rich and famous, and Hollywood biographies - her guilty pleasure was the National Enquirer! I can still see her curled up with a hot orange pekoe tea, in her corner of the couch, reading well into the late evening.

In her married life, she did not work outside the home, but took great pride in the title we gave her of "Domestic Engineer", even though her cooking would "pass with a push", and her pie crust was horrible - she owned this. Our quiet upbringing was uneventful, peaceful, with never a hint of raised voices or arguing. Mom's disciplinary approach, was a "look", when we tested her patience. It worked magically. Every time. Who needed Dr. Spock?

Mom was a beautiful lady, inside and out. She always had a smile for everyone, although we knew they were not always genuine. A true diplomat. She took pride in taking care of her family and herself, and dared not leave the house without her hair "done", (with the help of scratchy black rollers, and plastic picks she slept in the night before) lipstick (always a soft coral), her "go to" earrings, (clip on blue plastic beads, and crystals) a scarf, (hand made from remnants) imitation pearls, and finishing it off with a classy Holt Renfrew score - "The Ferragamos"!

Suffering from dementia the last few years, we cherished the moments when she realized who we were. One minute we were "Eddie", or "Willie", or "that nice lady who worked there" - the next minute we were Deborah, or Marlene. She scolded herself for not recognizing us, and always apologized for "going bananas". We teased her, and assured her that "she's not going bananas, she had already arrived". "Momisms" will keep us laughing in the years to come.

Rest now Mom. Rejoice in your reunion with the "old man next door".
You will be loved, cherished, and remembered always.

The family would like to warmly thank the staff at the Élisabeth Bruyère Residence, 6th Floor, for their kindness and care over the past three years, and also through her short illness. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the family will take care of immediate arrangements privately, through Hulse, Playfair and McGarry, and will hold a Celebration of Life, at a later date when we can all gather together.

Annie will finally be laid to rest with her beloved Lloyd, at Beechwood Cemetery, in Ottawa.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, would be greatly appreciated.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.