Sister E. Anne Keffer (1940-2023)
Sister E. Anne Keffer (1940-2023). Credit: Sacristy Press

Sr. Anne Keffer (1940-2023)

 — Feb. 3, 20233 févr. 2023
Adapted from the obituary at the Mark Jutzi Funeral Home, New Hamburg

With sadness, we announce the death of our friend and colleague, Sister Anne Keffer. She died Wednesday, Feb. 1 in Waterloo after a long illness. She will be remembered by her ecumenical colleagues for her sense of humour, compassion, and dedication to the path of unity.

Sr. Anne’s faith in a loving and compassionate God, and her identity as a Lutheran deaconess in ministry, meant everything to her. She was a relentless supporter of diaconal ministry in Canada, and a strong voice from within the church witnessing to the integrity of this special rostered ministry.

Sr. Anne was consecrated a Lutheran deaconess in 1964, serving in a variety of ministries in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Chicago. She was director of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism in Saskatoon from 1999 to 2004 when she was called by the Deaconess Community (both the USA and Canada) to be its directing deaconess.

Sr. Anne had decades of experience in spiritual direction and Christian education. She held an M.Ed in Counselling from the University of Western Ontario and completed a nine-month residency in Spiritual Direction at Loyola Retreat Centre, Guelph which “changed my life.” Sr. Anne graduated with a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction from the Graduate Theological Foundation, Indiana. And yet, when anyone tried to call her Dr. Keffer she would laugh and remind them that the name closest to her heart was “Sister Anne.”

Sr. Anne loved God and she loved people. Her passion was to accompany groups, or individuals, on their unique paths of spiritual growth, always using humour for community building and deepening one’s relationship with God.

Sr. Anne Keffer was anointed with oil and the baptismal promise that death does not have the last word on February 1, 2023. At the time of her death, she was embraced by people who loved her.

A service of thanksgiving for the life of Sr. Anne Keffer will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hamburg on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at 11:00 am. The service will be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/Trinity.New.Hamburg/live_videos/. In memory of Sr. Anne’s life donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, New Hamburg.

For the last several months, until just before her passing, Sr. Anne was helping to develop the webpage for canadianlutheranhistory.ca/diaconate. This site includes two videos, a video on Sr. Anne’s many ministries across Canada, and a video of Sr. Anne specifically relating to Diaconal Ministry.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.

Posted: Feb. 3, 2023 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=13224
Categories: Memorials, News • In this article: Anne Keffer, deacons, Prairie Centre for Ecumenism Transmis : 3 févr. 2023 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=13224
Catégorie : Memorials, News • Dans cet article : Anne Keffer, deacons, Prairie Centre for Ecumenism


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