Obituary of Annie Rosalie Drew- Purcell

Sambro

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Annie Rosalie (Drew) Purcell on March 13th 2022 with her loving family by her side. Annie, a life-long resident of Sambro, was born July 8th 1960 to parents Cecil James Drew and Elsie Aileen (Cooke) Drew, both deceased.

She is survived by her best friend and partner in crime, husband Kevin Alexander Purcell and their loving daughter, the light of her life, Emily Drew Purcell. Annie was so proud of Emily’s courageous and adventurous spirit. There are no words to describe how heartbroken Kevin and Emily are to lose their wife and mother, the steadfast champion in their lives. Annie will also be missed by her great companions, her dogs Ginger and Auggie (Aug the dog) and grand-doggie Iris.

Annie, known for her hard work, spent 32 years at Nova Scotia Health, the latter part of her career at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, retiring in 2019. She finally had the time to sit on the veranda and literally watch the tide rise and fall.

That was the thing about Annie, she appreciated the really big things in life. These were a few of her favourite things: spending time with friends and family ensuring everyone was well fed; visits with Emily at her home with lots of snuggles from Iris; keeping a well-kept home and yard. Eating healthy was a large focus of Annie’s life and she loved the many hours spent in her veggie gardens, annual trips to the valley garden centres, and most especially making preserves from her garden. She loved to cook and bake with Emily; road trips with Kevin to their usual destination, Bridgewater, for treats at the bakery, and lunch at the Wave; thrift shopping to the valley with Emily to see what treasures they could find; road trips with Ginger to their fave destinations of Evangeline Beach, Crescent Beach and Conrad’s Beach.  Quieter things that Annie enjoyed were reading, knitting and jigsaw puzzles.

Annie loved being out in nature. She enjoyed watching the seasonal changes with wildlife, especially bird watching, following the evening sky as the seasons changed, following the cycles of the moon and its effects on the tides. She spent many hours kayaking with her dogs at home in the Creek and at Ragged Lake North. Kevin and Annie’s camp at Ragged was a place she loved.  Enjoying its quiet surroundings, walking with the dogs on the trails, trying to catch a bass, swimming, boating around the lake with Ginger and Auggie were all such happy times for Annie.

Besides Kevin and Emily, Annie is survived by stepchildren Celine Francis (Darryl), Kyle Purcell (Nicole) grandchildren Dakota, Kinsley and Wynter; siblings Mary Elizabeth ("Beth") Kelly (George), David Alexander Drew, Bernard ("Bernie") Harris Drew (Trudy Clole), Alan Richard Drew (Anne), Paul Douglas Drew (Trisha); nieces Sonja Drew (Goddaughter) and Lucy Drew; nephews Christian Drew, Jordan Drew, Ryan Drew and Charlie Drew.

Gone too soon.  Forever loved.