Anne Keck (nee Hudec)

August 18, 1927 – September 25, 2023

It is with great sadness we announce that our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Anne Keck, has passed away peacefully in Medicine Hat on Monday, September 25, 2023, at the age of 96. Anne or Annie Hudec (or in Slovak, Hudecova) was born in Chlebnice, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) a very rural (especially then) village near the Tatra mountains in 1927, the third of John and Mary Hudec’s six children. She immigrated to Canada in 1932, arriving in Leader, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. The trip clearly made a huge impression on the young Anne and she had many stories about it: she was the only one of the family that did not get seasick on the voyage; she was extremely frightened when picked up and carried by a large man over a gangplank; how her mother burst into tears when they disembarked in Leader, Saskatchewan – Anne did not know if it was caused by the emotion of seeing her husband after all those years apart, or if it was the ‘freezing flat snow-covered prairie’ in contrast to the gentle green hills of the ‘old country’. She also recalled the tremendous kindness they were shown: they were greeted on shore by people welcoming the immigrants with hot drinks and doughnuts – a new food she thought ‘the most delicious thing she had ever eaten’; and the Leader stationmaster’s wife giving each of them a pair of knitted mittens because they had not come prepared for the extreme cold. They quickly settled into their new life near Fox Valley, Saskatchewan and the family eventually acquired their own farm, as well as 3 more siblings for Anne. She was a good student and after high school went to ‘Normal School’ in Moose Jaw, a time she always recalled with great fondness. Once qualified as a teacher, she taught at a number of country schools including Berhansen, Keebleville, Seattle and Tigh. She enjoyed teaching although she sometimes found the remote teacherages a bit scary, especially in the cold winters. But she persevered and eventually landed at Progress School near Horsham/Richmound, Saskatchewan/Hilda, Alberta which is where she met Ed Keck. They married in 1951, and together had 8 children who they raised on Ed’s father’s homestead farm, and where Anne lived until 1988, when she moved to Medicine Hat. Anne was a committed member of the church and the C.W.L., both in Richmound and later in Medicine Hat. She supported their many activities and functions over the years as well as making sure her children did their part as altar boys and choir members and the like. She enjoyed gardening and was always trying to eke out of the prairie some vegetables from her huge garden, as well as a few flowers and a patch of lawn in front of the house. But by far the biggest and most important role of her life was that of a Mother, and when her children were small or of school age her days were more than fully occupied. As well as the endless laundry and cleaning, she always seemed to be making jam or pickling or canning or preserving or cooking and – best of all – baking. Anne was a very good cook, and liked to try new recipes (e.g., doing Chinese cooking course in her 50’s and learning to make the best ever pizza roll – her grandchildren’s favourite.) But what she excelled at was baking. She made the lightest most delicious buns and there were always baked treats available. Everyone had their favourite and she made them all: butterhorns, kuchen, cinnamon buns, date squares, nanaimo bars, honey cookies (especially at Christmas), and every type of pie, and cake, and square you can think of. That wonderful baking made our school lunches (prepared freshly every morning and tailored to each child’s taste) the envy of many – and also meant that on occasion a lunch went missing! Once her children had grown up, she very much enjoyed looking after her grandchildren, both on the farm and later in Medicine Hat or in their own homes. She also used her newfound freedom to embark on some travel both in Canada (BC, Nova Scotia) and further afield to Europe, the USA, Britain and Indonesia. Probably the trip that had the biggest impact was her first trip abroad when she went back to the ‘Old Country’ – Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) to visit her birthplace and the many relatives she still had there. Anne will be missed immensely by her children, Patrick, Michael (Arlene), Stuart (Sandi), Colleen (Mark), David (Nadine), Yvonne, Jim (Melanie) and Kevin (Fameena); 19 grandchildren, Nicole (Jared), Rhonda, Laura (Johnathan), Adam (Leah), Kristopher (Rheanna), Jeffrey, Craig, Eric (Anouk), Christine (Josh), Evan (Katie), Nathan, Daniel, Jillianne, Emily, Michael, Ian, Keely, Zach and Justin; 8 great-grandchildren, Danielle, Bradyn, Hatchett, Max, Neva, Mayla, Gemmalena and Brayden; her sister, Cecile Sellinger and brother-in-law, John as well as her many nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. Anne was predeceased by her parents, John and Mary Hudec; sisters, Margaret Hudec, Mary Sellinger and Mathilda Hudec; brother, John Hudec and daughter-in-law, Louise Keck. Anne’s pride and joy were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as her nieces and nephews, and she delighted being with her large family. Each of them will remember her always with great love and affection. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Anne’s caregiver, companion and friend, Vicki Gianan, whose devoted care enabled Anne to remain in her home until a short while ago, which greatly enhanced her wellbeing and happiness. Vigil Prayers will be recited at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Vigil Prayers will be live-streamed. Those who wish to watch the live-stream should visit the Cook Southland website and select the View Broadcast button on the homepage at service time. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Parish, 1451 Strachan Road S.E., Medicine Hat on Monday, October 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with Father Iqbal Khurshid celebrant. Those attending the Funeral Mass should ensure they are at the church no later than 10:45 a.m. to ensure they are present for the family tribute that will be shared prior to the start of the Funeral Mass. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery. Those wishing to join the family virtually and experience the Funeral Mass via live stream are invited to watch by connecting to YouTube and searching: Medicine Hat Holy Family Church, then selecting the video link at service time. Visitation will be offered at both Vigil Prayers and the Funeral Mass, starting one hour prior to the respective service time. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com) If friends so desire, donations in Anne’s memory may be made to Deaf and Hear Alberta, 63 Cornell Road N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2L 0L4.   Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, Crematorium & Reception Facility, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 4V4.  Telephone:  403-527-6455 or toll free at:  1-877-528-6455.

• Date : 2023-09-25
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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