Obituary of Anna Margaret Rodvang

Anna Margaret Griffiths was born in Coronation Hospital on October 23, 1931. She passed away peacefully on March 20, 2023 at the Coronation Hospital, surrounded by her family.

Anna was a beloved daughter of Egbert and Edith Griffiths and sister to Jim, Ralph, Charles, Jean and Muriel.  She grew up on her parents’ homestead near Fleet and after High School she went to U of A Teachers College and then taught for three years at Coronation, Lucerne and Bulwark.  

Anna met Tom Rodvang in 1946. They married in 1953 and bought a homestead farm where they lived for seven years and welcomed Kathryn, Andrew, Loren, Carolyn and Joan. In 1959 a farm fire destroyed all but their little house, so Anna and Tom rebuilt at Tom’s parents’ homestead where they raised their family. In 1982 they built another country home and they retired to Coronation in 2009.

Anna’s family and the farm were the loves of her life. She was a loving and supportive advocate of Tom, her children and her children’s partners, and her grandchildren. She delighted in sharing her love of reading, learning, thinking and debate. Anna was active on the farm and she had a special love of harvest time - if she wasn’t driving the baler or the grain truck she was making a picnic for the field.  She enjoyed helping with the cattle and was an accomplished horse woman.

 Anna always had a garden and took pride in preserving enough fruits and vegetables to last the winter.  Her yard was filled with flower gardens and she took pleasure in hosting family weddings and parties. One guest asked her if the farm was located on an oasis in the prairie.  Anna was an accomplished seamstress and she sewed most of the family clothes, and also special-occasion dresses for many relatives. She was also prolific at quilting, knitting, needlework, and other crafts.

Anna was enthusiastically supportive of her community. In 1961 Anna and her friends started the Sunshine Club, and for 60 years they hosted and catered famously delicious food at weddings, funerals, bonspiels and showers. Anna was a member of the Coronation Fair Board and the Royal Purple, and she served several terms as a Paintearth/Clearview School Board Trustee and Paintearth County Councilor. She was active with the Further Education Committee and of course that meant she took all the courses.   

Anna and Tom enjoyed traveling. They visited family in Norway and England, they joined other family on a cruise to Alaska, and they enjoyed farm tours to Argentina, Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, Cuba and China.  They also traveled from the east coast to the west coast in Canada, including many trips to visit their daughters’ families in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Lethbridge.

Anna was predeceased by Tom, her granddaughter Kristin, and four of her five siblings. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Kathryn & Rob Lannigan, Andrew & Lois Rodvang, Loren & Jackie Rodvang, Carolyn & Peter Andrews, and Joan & Ron McNeil, and grandchildren Heather & Doug Kavanagh, Darragh & John Creary, Julie & Shawn Baxter, Allison Rodvang, Eric Rodvang, Leah Rodvang, Evan Rodvang, Holly Andrews, Kate Andrews and Alayna McNeil, and great grandchildren Luke, Ryan and Ava Kavanagh, Nolan Creary, and Emma and Hugh Baxter. Anna is survived by her sister Jean Checkel, her sister-in-law Bertha Gjertsen, her brother-in-law Ken Needham, and many nieces and nephews.  

We would like to thank the physicians and staff at Coronation Assisted Living and the Coronation Hospital for their loving care of Anna. We thank all of Anna’s friends and family for their support and good wishes.

A Celebration of Life for Anna and Tom Rodvang will be held at the Coronation Hall on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 2 pm. There will be an open mic and we look forward to your stories!