Annemarie Lau, died with her family by her side on September 27, 2023 at 87 years of age.
She was born November 3, 1935, as Anna Maria Dietl, in St. Valentin auf der Haide, in what is now South Tyrol, Italy. Her birth home no longer exists as the whole village was flooded in later years to create a hydroelectric dam and all that remains of the town is a towering church steeple in the middle of the lake, standing strong and proud as a testament to the people who once lived there.
Much like that inspiring church steeple, Annemarie’s life was a witness to strength in the face of adversity. Annemarie faced the challenge of growing up during and after WWII in Germany and Austria, of starting a new life in Canada, and of starting up and running a business all while raising a family.
As a young adult of 18, she travelled to England as an au pair to learn English. She then returned to Austria to work as a chambermaid in a local hotel until she had enough money saved to travel to Canada and begin a new life. By her early 20’s, she was working in Canada, saving money and finding a place for her parents and younger siblings to live so they could join her.
During her early years in Canada, she met fellow Austrian Josef Lau and they were married in 1959. They began a family and purchased a farm in Shelburne where they raised their three daughters, Christine, Irene and Andrea. After a few years they moved to Toronto, but when a position came up for Josef in Penetang to help start up Advanced Extrusions, the family moved there. Eventually they purchased another farm in Lafontaine, where Annemarie stayed until 2006, a year after Josef’s death.
They kept themselves very busy owning and operating Austria Printing, for 34 years while Josef continued to work at Advanced Extrusions full-time. While the family business required hard work and time, it was family which was at the centre for Annemarie. If a family is a body, Annemarie was our backbone. Annemarie and Josef instilled in each of their daughters a sense of the importance of working hard, being kind and giving back to their community. Annemarie’s mottos, which she taught her girls in her words and, more importantly, in her living, were: “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” or “do unto others as you would have them unto you.”
Annemarie’s interests were many. She was never without a book or two on the go. Her thirst for knowledge was unquenchable. She was an accomplished seamstress, and you could spot the young Lau
girls a mile away in their matching outfits. She knitted and crocheted and, if that were not enough, she took up spinning and learned how to use a knitting machine. During her final years of good health, she took up folk painting, scrapbooking, and Swedish weaving. But it was in the garden (expansive and award-winning) where Annemarie relaxed. In her green-thumbed hands, even a dead twig stuck in dry sand would sprout roots.
She adored her grandchildren and always made time to be involved in their lives and teach them the many interesting things about farm life. Whenever possible, she would watch Cameron and Drew play soccer and basketball and was often there to cheer on Jacob at hockey and to support Gabriele at her dance competitions.
Once her daughters were grown, she had time to become more involved in her community. She was a member of the Chamber of Commerce for many years, sat on the committee for the installation of the Kitchikewana Statue on Main St, served on the Winterama Committee, was a member of the Daughters of Isabella at St. Anne’s Church. It came as no surprise then that, in 1992, Annemarie was voted Citizen of the Year by the Penetang Chamber of Commerce.
Even when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few years after Josef’s death, she continued life with strength and grace. No matter how much pain her back or knees brought her, she displayed her million-dollar smile to all. Though she eventually lost her ability to speak, she would still reach out to other residents of Georgian Manor where she lived. She would offer the warm comfort of a hand held and a smile shared with them.
Her kindness, thoughtfulness and helpfulness will be so greatly missed. However, we all take solace in the fact that she has been called to heaven, welcomed by God and all her family who predeceased her: Josef her husband of 45 years, her parents Adalbert and Adelheid, her siblings, Wilhelm, Engelbert, Alois, Walter, Adelinde and Hermann (Lorraine), her brothers- and sisters-in-law Alfred and Hilde, Pius and Eugenie, her niece Natasha, nephews Andre, David and Adalbert.
She is survived by her daughters Christine (David), Irene, Andrea (Darrell), her grandchildren Cameron (Jen), Drew (Camille), Jacob and Gabriele and great-granddaughter Rosalyn, her sister Dorothea (Wolfram), her brother-in-law Erwin, sisters-in-law Alma, Dallas and Sandy, her many relatives, nieces and nephews in Canada, Austria, Italy and Germany and many friends, neighbours and business associates.
The family would like to extend their gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Georgian Manor for their loving and compassionate care of Annemarie. We are very grateful for the comfort the staff provided during Annemarie’s final year.
Visitation will be held at the Penetanguishene Funeral Home on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 11:30 to 1:30. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. A reception will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall following the mass.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Parkinson Canada or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research would be appreciated.
“You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived.”
Author unknown
