Obituary of Anna Grace Reesor

Anna Grace (Heise) Reesor

1924-2025

Anna G. Reesor of Stouffville, ON, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the age of 100. Anna was born to Orla Heise and Catherine Lehman at the Heise homestead near Victoria Square, Ontario on October 29, 1924. Anna’s early years were shaped by work on the farm, special time with her immediate and extended family and involvement in Heise Hill Church. Her commitment to family, faith and service to others remained for her whole life. Anna walked to School Section #7, Markham Township for public school and later completed secondary school at Niagara Christian College and Richmond Hill High School. In 1942 when farm help was scarce, she joined “The Farm Service Force”. Anna drove the tractor for her father and helped her uncle with baling hay. Anna deferred her further education so that she could continue to help on the farm until she was 21.

In 1949, Anna graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Toronto General Hospital School of Nursing. She had a calm demeanour and her family and others greatly benefited from the nursing knowledge that she generously shared. On October 11, 1949, Anna married John Clarence Reesor after a courtship of nearly four years. Anna and John were married for 70 years and rarely spent a night apart. They were committed partners and companions who made the most of their long lives together.

Anna and John lived on their farm in Markham Township for 25 years. Anna raised five children, helped with the farm, was deeply involved in the church community and retained strong ties to her extended family. Even with a full house and a busy farm, they regularly welcomed family and church guests in their home, often for extended stays. Anna and John loved to travel and were committed to maintaining family ties. This led to numerous trips to visit Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Florida family, as well as to travel across Canada and the US with children sprawled in the back seat of the dark green 1969 Chrysler Newport hardtop. John and Anna also visited Anna’s sisters in Africa and India, and travelled to Europe and South America.

In 1974, Anna and John accepted a request from the Brethren in Christ church to become the first year-round managers at Camp Kahquah near Magnetawan, ON. They moved from the farm with their two youngest daughters and established a “new life”. They quickly adjusted to their roles of maintaining the property, welcoming summer campers and winter retreat guests and additionally, the local community to the camp. They became active members of the community, joining a church and local service groups.  

After five years, they moved to their retirement home on Ahmic Lake and later to Parkview Village in Stouffville where Anna resided in an independent living apartment until the last two months of her life. They volunteered for many years at the Care and Share Shoppe, and Anna made regular visits to residents in long-term care. They spent significant time helping their children in Markham, Peterborough, Waterloo and Calgary. Anna baked bread and pies for their children’s start-up bakery, helped out when someone was sick and liked to plan special activities for visits with  her eight grandchildren whether it was a round of mini golf, a trip to the zoo, or a special craft.

Anna continued to learn and try new things throughout her life. Pickling, canning and freezing food were second nature to her, and she added new items to the family table including exotic curry, granola and homemade yogurt. She was an expert seamstress and gardener, and also learned how to knit, crochet,  needlepoint, macrame, paint ceramics and refinish furniture. She was an avid walker and made this a regular part of her day. Anna  loved to sing and even  in her last years knew the words to dozens of hymns. Anna lived her long life with humour, grace, and boundless energy. She remained active, independent, engaged in life and delighted in family gatherings. She was resourceful, creative, generous and always kind and positive She will be remembered for her easy smile and laugh, and for her lifelong commitment to helping others.

Anna will be dearly missed by her family, Arlene Reesor, Judith Marshall (Bernard), Jay (Miriam Witmer), Susan Reesor (Yared Lakew), and Karla Reesor (Trent Tilbury), eight grandchildren, Geoffrey, Grahame, Gillianne, Elliot, Leah, Jessica, Brianna and Rebecca and four great-grandchildren. Anna leaves behind her sister, Erma Sider and many nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Reesor, her siblings, Miriam, Harold, Lewis and Lois, and her son-in-law, Denis Taylor.

Mennonite Central Committee was one of Anna’s favourite charities. In lieu of flowers, any memorial donations you may wish to make to that organization (mcc.org/donate) or to the charity of your choice, would be much appreciated by the family.

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