It is with great sorrow that the family announces the passing of Wesley Carlyle Anderson at the age of 93 on October 13th, 2023 at the Guelph General Hospital, after a brief illness.
Wesley was the first of a family of four children of George and Ageneita Anderson from Springfield, Welcome Hall, St. James, Jamaica. His siblings are Dr. Farel (Eleanor) of Collingwood, Abbott (deceased), and Barbara of Toronto, ON. This irretrievable loss is also mourned by his two children Althea (Tom) Burtch of Florida, and Andrew (Carla) of Guelph, along with 5 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and his best friend and “brother” Mike Curtis.
After leaving Calabar High School in Jamaica, he became a Certified Pharmacist, and served with the Jamaica Health System for many years, during which time he married Thelma Leiba, a nurse, in 1954, who predeceased him in 2014.
The family moved to Canada in 1958 where he attended the University of Saskatchewan and graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 1962. The family returned to Jamaica in 1965 where he taught high school and later worked at the Milk Manufacturing Factory in Linstead as its CEO.
By this time, the study of Medicine, an idea that consumed him throughout his early and teenage years, had to be derailed because of certain prevailing set of circumstances. Wesley later returned with his family to Canada and settled in Guelph in 1972. He taught elementary school in and around Guelph for many years until his retirement in 1993. His communication with his students was always paramount – something he was always proud of. He also taught at Conestoga College in Guelph. With his desire to help others and to serve his community, he became the ever-so-present volunteer at the Guelph Evergreen Project. Always with an elfin and welcoming grin, he had the uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way. His formidable Christian principles and values were always evident whether discussing politics, philosophy or people. It was during his many years of volunteer service that he produced “MEA COGITATIONES”, an unpublished compilation of his reflections on life, values, commitment, justice, etc.
As a Board Member he sought to make reading a vital part of the drop in centre, and so spent much of his volunteer time cataloguing and putting books in place as well as reminding members of their medical appointments from week to week. These tasks were dealt with the greatest of efficiency and commitment. This part of his journey made him a very happy and satisfied human being, because he was always giving and serving. He sometimes would lapse into pathological worry and sleepless nights, when others, even those outside his immediate family, suffered the odd disappointment.
His years of solo living ended when he moved into Riverside Glen in Guelph, ON. He felt he was no longer in control and his incremental forgetfulness became very evident over the last few years. He made every effort to connect with all his fellow residents, staff included, and was highly respected in return. This was the place and people he loved. It was truly a home for him.
The family extends their thanks to the manager and staff, and others that have contributed to Wesley’s final years of life and peaceful ending. The essence of his life embodies this quotation from Henry James “Don’t wait for people to be friendly. Show them how”.
Visitation will be held at Wall-Custance Funeral Home and Chapel, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph on Saturday, April 6th, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm. A ceremony for his Celebration of Life will be held in the funeral home chapel at 1:30 pm. Reception to follow the service. Arrangements entrusted to WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com).
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to your charity of choice.
A tree will be planted in memory of Wesley C. Anderson in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.