September 12, 1952 – January 21, 2024 Anne passed away quietly at the age of 71 at Lennox and Addington County General Hospital. She was predeceased by her parents, H.R. (Bob) and Betty (née MacMillan) Ledingham; and by her sister, Susan and Susan's husband, Doug Earle. She leaves behind her sister, Jane; brother, Rob (Karen); her sons, Elliott (Jennifer), Graeme (Chelsey), and Duncan Richardson; her nieces, Emily (Allison) and Gwynne (Maneesh); and her grandchildren, Faye, Florence, and Hugh Richardson.
Born in Montreal, Anne moved to Etobicoke at an early age, remaining in the area for most of her life. A graduate of Queens, she had an abiding passion for language, books, and word games. One of her first jobs was at the legendary Duthie Books in Vancouver, and she went on to become a well-respected representative for numerous publishing houses including Penguin, Wiley, and Pearson. Anne married John Richardson and had three sons: Elliott and the twins Graeme and Duncan. The marriage dissolved, but Anne considered the raising of her sons to be her crowning achievement. Stoic in the face of challenge and adversity, she just got on with what needed to be done for her children and did not complain.
She adored her grandchildren and moved to Bath three years ago in large part to be closer to them. Her signature dish of mac and cheese was a must-have at all family get-togethers. Anne loved the outdoors and particularly treasured her time at Bruce Beach and Camp Wabanaki. She maintained lifelong friendships with the people there. She was an enthusiastic birder who with her sister Susan took long walks along Lake Ontario.
An ardent environmentalist, she constantly reminded people, particularly her sisters, of how to recycle properly. Anne had an especially strong bond with her sisters, who shared her dry sense of humor. Together they celebrated her 50th birthday in Tuscany on a trip that was practically perfect. When her sister Susan was diagnosed with cancer, she spent almost every day in her company involving her in daily adventures that kept Susan's spirits high.
A celebration of Anne's life will be held in Toronto at the Markland Wood Golf Club on March 24th between 2 and 4 p.m. Interment will be held at a later date at the Latona cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lennox and Addington County General Hospital Palliative Care Fund or Greenpeace Canada would be appreciated.