Anne Drader was born Lydia Anna Ingram on March 22, 1924, in Seattle, USA, but her birth was registered in Bentley, Alberta, where she grew up. She died at 99 years of age, at Evergreen Extended Care Unit in Powell River, in the tender care of the ECU staff.
During World War II, Anne moved to Vancouver to work building aircraft at a Boeing plant near Stanley Park. After the war she returned to Alberta and worked as a schoolteacher. She married Arthur Drader on Christmas Day 1945, and together they moved to Powell River in 1946, where Art found work in the paper mill. They soon brought three healthy children into the world and enjoyed a lifetime of happy marriage.
Anne and Art built a wonderful life together, a foundation that has passed many joyful blessings on to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Anne loved her life and was very proud of her experiences and her family. She demonstrated how to live a full productive and creative life, and also how to enjoy leisure. She began her ‘athletic’ career with curling, but soon switched to golf. She was a passionate player and won many trophies.
Anne was a great storyteller and was renowned as an excellent artist who focused mostly on painting with water and oils. She created many remarkable paintings that are cherished by her friends and family, and her productions have inspired generations of creative accomplishment among her descendants.
Anne and Art travelled extensively around the world, touring many countries and bringing home fascinating souvenirs. When Art retired early from the Powell River mill to work for over a year in Balikesir, Turkey, teaching workers to master industrial paper-making processes, Anne learned to speak Turkish and developed several friendships with local women. While they lived there, she painted the world around them, creating striking mementos of the people, landscapes, buildings and ruins.
Anne is survived by her sisters Ellamae Gunn and Lucy Vandenbrink; daughters Ellen Martiniuk and Phyllis Straathof; grandchildren Wendy Karpuik and Teresa Drew (Elliot); Nathaniel Straathof (Jacqueline Wiles); Silas Straathof (Genevieve Burdett) and Brandan Drader; and great-grandchildren Holly and Ben Karpuik; Nadia and Huxley Straathof; and Leo and Max Straathof.
Anne was predeceased by her husband Arthur Drader, her son Randall Drader (Meralon) and her sons-in-law Peter Straathof (Phyllis) and Bill Martiniuk (Ellen). A celebration of Anne’s life will be held in 2024.
