July 8, 1935 – May 19, 2025
With great sadness the family announces the passing of Anne Stronski, our beloved mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. Anne, aged 89, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on May 19, 2025 at the Claresholm General Hospital.
Anne was born on July 8, 1935, in Barnwell, Alberta to Lukas and Frances Shimek. She grew up on the family farm along with her older brother Steve. Anne married William (Bill) Stronski in 1951. Together, they started raising their six children on their farm in Turin before moving to the ranch west of Claresholm in 1971.
Anne and Bill shared a lifelong love for the western way of life, spending summers traveling across North America showing Appaloosa horses with their family. Their passion for ranching extended to raising cattle, where Anne played a vital role in keeping the ranch running smoothly. Her home was always welcoming and she had mastered the art of preparing delicious meals – often on short notice. Whether preparing legendary branding meals or ensuring the daily chores were done, she embraced the hardworking spirit of country living. Anne had a natural talent for gardening, cultivating large vegetable gardens and growing beautiful flowers that brightened her yard. She took great pride in her homegrown produce and continued canning her famous pickles well into her 80s, sharing them with family and friends.
Beyond ranch life, Anne was also an accomplished businesswoman, playing a key role in the operation of the family-owned western store in Claresholm for many years. In her retirement, she cherished every moment traveling to visit with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cheering them on in figure skating, hockey, dance, theater, and cattle penning.
Her sense of humour, smile, and loving nature will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Anne is survived by her loving family, daughters – Diane (Rick) Raeslar, Connie (Jack) Faris, Wendy (Larry) MacDonald, Sharon (Steve) Marshall; son – Bill (Carmen) Stronski and son-in-law Bryan Thompson. Grandchildren: Rhianna (Sami) Alfadili, Amy (Steve) Carver, Chris (Sandia) Thompson, Brandy Faris, Evan (Jessica) Faris, Erin MacDonald, Kyle (Carmen) MacDonald, Morgan (John) Dozeman, Taylor (Gord) French, Quentin Stronski, Ryan Stronski, 14 great-grandchildren, as well as her brother, Steve (Lily) Shimek.
Anne was predeceased by her parents, her husband William Stronski, grandson Michael Marshall and daughter Debra Thompson.
At Anne’s request, no funeral service will be held. A private family gathering will take place at a later date.
In memory of Anne, donations can be made to palliative care through the Claresholm and District Health Foundation, honoring her legacy of kindness and care.