Anne Pavka

1944 - 2025

 With heavy hearts, the family of Anne Pavka (née VanderHeide), announce the passing of their beloved wife, mother and grandma in Taber on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the age of 81 years.

Relatives and friends were invited to Prayers at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.

The Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, 5009 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Monday, May 26, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. Private burial followed at the Taber Memorial Garden. 

Those who are unable to attend and wish to view the service online may do so by clicking on the livestream link that will be available on this page at 10:45 A.M. on Monday, May 26, 2025. Barring any technical difficulties, the livestream will begin at 11:00 A.M.

Anne was born in the Netherlands on March 10, 1944 and immigrated with her family to Canada in 1954. She married the love of her life, Laddie Pavka on November 9, 1968, residing on their family farm in Cranford. They were blessed with four children, Lisa (Robb) Foote and their children Brenden, Josh, Tyler and Kaitlyn; Tim Pavka and his daughter Lilee; Lynette (Brady) Pancoast and their children Logan, Leigha and Lauren; Laurinda (Brent) Nemecek and their children Olivia, Sawyer and Emily.

She is also survived by her siblings Jack (Ishan), Ben (Beth), Margaret (Fred), Bill (Joanne), Peter (Noemi), Alice (Terry), Tom (Winnie) as well as her sisters-in-law Mil (Ray) and Mary Ann along with numerous nieces and nephews.

 She was predeceased by her daughter Lisa in 2017, parents Fred and Pam, sisters-in-law Lydia (Bill) and Polly (John), brother-in-law Fritz and nephew Brad.

One of Anne’s greatest joys in life was her kids. She took great pride in all of her family’s extra curricular activities and managed to keep them all prepared and arriving on time. She loved her flower and vegetable gardens and manicured lawn on the farm, along with some special dogs throughout her years. Anne stuck to her weekly routines to maintain the housework, homemade cooking and baking and always included a weekly shopping trip to Lethbridge. She took pride in the sugar beet harvest by running the topper for years, looking forward to a vacation once finished.

Anne loved music, having grown up in a musical family. She loved singing, dancing and having fun with her grandkids. She was an active member of the Catholic Women’s League and bible study group with St. Augustine’s Parish.

Anne’s life was one of purpose, rooted in tradition and nurtured by love. Her legacy will live on through the meals she taught her family to make, the music she loved and her examples of love, kindness and active volunteering.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her family and friends.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Anne’s name may be made directly to the Alzheimer Society, 40, 1202 - 2 Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 0E3 www.alzheimer.ca or to a charity of one’s personal choice.

The family would like to offer a special thank you to Dr. Collins, Dr. Clemis and the special caregivers at Linden View and Taber Home Care for their genuine kindness and dedication. To Father Philip, thank you for being so kind to Anne and for the support you have offered to her family.