In 1987, while visiting family in Anchorage, Anna met Justice Edmond Burke on a blind date. Without haste, they married in Montana where they would live (Missoula) and celebrate nearly 30 years together filled with the best that life has to offer — family, friends, a home that they loved, the Missoula Symphony, and retirement. Joy was met with challenge, however, when Anna suffered a stroke and all too soon lost her ability to speak. Ed became her voice and did so with the kind of devotion fueled by kindred spirits. “I have a feeling your mother is not far behind me,” Ed prophetically announced before his death, just eight months ago, giving notice to family, we believe, that he and Anna’s bond was a priority.
“Gramee.” Another story to be told. While her grandkids’ memories are their own, the thread that joins them is nearly indistinguishable. Life was big around Gramee, big Christmas trees (when room permitted, or not), big ornaments, big packages tied in big bows, big hugs and kisses. She was a patient teacher, her words of encouragement delivered wisely and without judgement — perhaps the greatest gift of all.
Anna Burke was preceded in death by S. Thatcher Hubbard and Edmond W. Burke.
Anna is survived by two sons, John Hubbard (Maryann), Missoula; Laurence Hubbard (Bergetta), Helena; stepsons Samuel T. Hubbard Jr. (Janet), Helena and Steve Hubbard (Cindy), Kent, Washington; stepdaughters Tamera Hitchcock, Spokane, Washington and Sara Gray (Butch), Mountlake Terrace, Washington; stepdaughters Kathleen (Fisher) Burke, Barrow, Alaska and Jennifer (Richardson) Burke, Anchorage, Alaska; grandchildren Thatcher Hubbard (Brenda), Seattle, Washington; Michaela Schaeger (Jason), Missoula; Anna Hubbard, Denver, Colorado; Leland Hubbard, Missoula; great-grandchildren Anderson, Bergen, and Leif Schaeger, Missoula; Abigayle and Mollie Fisher, Barrow, Alaska.
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