Obituary of Anita Jean Pennell

January 3, 1955 - September 27, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Anita Pennell. After a courageous 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Anita passed with love and grace, family and friends by her side.  

Born on the family farm near Marlbank, Ontario.  She was predeceased by her parents William and Frances Pennell and her sister Norma Nugent.  Anita is survived by her siblings Gloria (Eric) Jeppeson, Stead, ON; William (Sue), Marlbank, ON; Joseph, Carp, ON; Coralee (Tim) Babcock, Marysville, ON; Tania Millard (late Russell), Napanee, ON.  Anita will be greatly missed by her daughter Amanda Truax (Jason), Ottawa, ON; son Tyson Boehme, Harrowsmith, ON; former daughter-in-law Angela Fournier (Vince Bennett) of Kingston, ON; and son Ryan Boehme (Jacqueline Cyr), Napanee, ON. 

Gramma/Memaw will be dearly missed by her 13 grandchildren:  Sydney, Charley, Liam, Finley & Jaxon Truax; Camden, Avery & Emery Boehme; Isabelle, Dominic, Alexa, Sophia & Raphael Boehme, as well as many nieces and nephews.  

Anita retired from Regional Assessment & Resource Centre (RARC) at Queen’s University in May 2021.  Previously, she worked for Trow Consulting Engineers, Ontario Marina Operators Association, Kingston, ON.  She started and managed a small independent recording company “Flyin’ High Records” alongside her ex- husband Dieter Boehme. Her working career began at the Dairy Queen and Lennox Addington County Board of Education (now Limestone Board). She attended Napanee District Secondary School in Napanee, ON.  Anita loved to research her family genealogy, along with drawing, reading metaphysical books, and gardening.  Her favourite flower was the iris, and she loved the colours fuchsia, red and teal.  

Anita wished to convey great gratitude and love to her son Ryan and his wife Jacqueline, her daughter Amanda and her husband Jason, her sister Coralee and her husband Tim and son Nathan, Angela Fournier, her friends Jan Wood, Wendy Reid and Marie McCarron/Dale Lafreniere by either taking her to her appointments and/or being there when she needed loving people the most. You were the greatest support team and true compassionate people. She would like to thank Marie’s son Nicholas for his kind offer to play the bagpipes at the ceremony, as well. To the people who were there for her emotional support, a big thank you to Bev and Gerald Finn, brother Joe Pennell, nephews Devan & Mitchel Pennell, Tyler & Trevor Nugent, cousin John (Lena) Myers, long-time friends Nora & Darrel Brown, Mary McInnis, Angela and Earl Wallace, previous coworkers (“RARCies”); Marie McCarron, Alison Parker, Rina Gupta, Vicki Armstrong, Beth Pollock & Candice Daiken, who offered their help or words of comfort, flowers, food and hugs, and to the other RARCies who sent their inspiring messages and memories in a loving scrapbook.  Thank you to the team of nurses and doctors in Oncology, Palliative Care and Radiology and administrative staff at the Cancer Clinic at Kingston General Hospital.  

Donations to help maintain Wilton Cemetery would be appreciated by Anita and family.  In time, Anita would ask that you perform unexpected and unsolicited acts of kindness in her name because she was classy like that.

In keeping with Anita's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place at Payne Funeral Home located at 178 Main St, Odessa, Ontario on Saturday, October 7^th from 9 - 10:30 a.m.  A burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Wilton Cemetery, Fisk Rd, Wilton, Ontario. Honouring Anita’s wish for a lively after party celebration with singing and dancing, memory making and sharing, please join us at the home of her sister Coralee (Tim) Babcock. A light luncheon will be catered by Lonsdale Women's Institute. Potluck contributions are also welcome.  Address and map to be provided at the service. 

In keeping with Anita's Irish ancestry, she sends you this Irish Blessing:  May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Please share your memories and condolences to the family at www.paynefuneralhome.com