ANDRES, Anna Elisabeth Andres

Passed away peacefully at home on August 28, 2025 in her 74th year. She will be deeply missed by her husband Richard, children Rich (Trish), Jeremy (Vinciane), Andrew, Jamie, Julie (Rob) Douglas, Mark (Victoria). Proud Oma to 13 treasured grandchildren who loved her so much, Emma, Reid, Easton, Tayla, Melissa, Eric, Kyle, Huxley, Amelia, Peter, Katie, Alexandria and Bentley. Also mourning her passing is her half sister Sende (Willi) Kuskova and their family in Germany. She will be missed by brothers and sisters-in-law Wendy Janzen, Elsie (Wallace) Clement, Reg (Cheryl) Andres, Fred (Pat) Andres, Sam Hildebrandt and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by her parents, Dietrich and Katharina (Paetkau) Janzen, brother Peter , half sister Siena and brother-in-law Peter Hildebrandt.

Anna was born in Paraguay to Dietrich and Katharina (Paetkau) Janzen on April 3rd, 1952. After immigrating to Canada in 1956, the family moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake and eventually into a home on Lakeshore Road, where she grew up. Anna later attended Eden High School, Laurier University and McMaster University, however, a chance meeting in the summer of 1970 led her down a different path. Anna put her studies on hold to marry Rick on May 6, 1972 and happily settled onto the farm on the Parkway to start their family. Rich was welcomed onto the farm in 1974, followed by Jeremy in 1975, Andrew in 1977, Jamie in 1979, Julie in 1981 and finally Mark in 1987.

Not content with just raising her growing family while tending and harvesting sweet and sour cherries and peaches, Anna began to pursue her passion for seeing the bigger picture in the early 1980s which carried on for the next 40 years of her life. First by getting involved in the Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and later serving on various Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Appeal Boards and Tribunals, the Canadian Ostrich Association, the Leadership Commission of the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada, as a Director on the Board of Niagara Credit Union and the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission. Anna’s pursuit of seeing the bigger picture led her to return to McMaster University in 1997 to complete her studies. She went on to earn her Bachelors in 2001, a Masters in 2004, and her Doctorate in 2010, to become Dr. Anna Janzen. Dr. Janzen taught various undergraduate courses at McMaster, Mohawk and Brock until her retirement in 2020.

Anna’s later years were filled with her husband, children and grandchildren, her gardens, baking, crocheting blankets made with love and dreams for every baby welcomed with joy into her family, her books and the Niagara UM Women in Service. In the spring of 2025 Anna’s health took a sudden turn. After a short, but courageous battle with glioblastoma, she passed peacefully surrounded by the love of her family and her faith.

The family would like to extend special thanks to all the PSWs, especially Francine, Nurse Rebecca, Nurse Airie, as well as Leanne with the Niagara Palliative Care Outreach Team, Dr. Kaptien, Dr. De Sa, Dr. Kishore, Dr. Sharma and all the dedicated Doctors and Nurses at Hamilton Health Sciences involved in Anna’s care.

Visitation will be held at Niagara United Mennonite Church on Tuesday September 2nd from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Funeral service will be held at Niagara United Mennonite Church on Wednesday September 3rd at 11:00 am, with reception to follow. Tallman Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the arrangements.