SIDDON, Kristine Seneva (Anderson)
September 22, 1941 - December 4, 2015
With deep love and in Christian faith we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother into the arms of her Heavenly Father. Kristine Seneva was called home to be with her Lord on Friday December 4th, 2015. Kristine Seneva Anderson was born on September 22nd, 1941 in the Drumheller hospital to Gunner and Mina Anderson. Kris was named for her Swedish grandmother Kristine and her Norwegian grandmother Synnove. When Mina first held her new born daughter, she dedicated her to the Lord, setting the course for a life well-lived in the Christian faith. Growing up in Nacmine, Alberta, Kris was an only child but was never lonely as she was raised in a joy and music filled home where friends and neighbours were always welcome. Kris often shared fond memories of playing in the hills of Nacmine with her many friends. During the summers she spent time visiting with her family in Oyen, AB; the town named for her great uncle Andrew Oyen. She would talk of exciting travels on the midnight train from Drumheller to Oyen and often reminisced about watching the lights of Hanna from the window of the train. Grandpa Simon Oyen would be waiting at the train station with horse and buggy and Grandma Oyen would be at the farm house with treats prepared. Kris would also spend some of her time each summer visiting her Grandpa and Grandma Anderson on the family farm at Entwistle, AB and with the Anderson aunts, uncles and cousins. Kris cherished these summers for the family time spent in fellowship with her large family playing games, making music and attending dances with her cousins at the “Magnolia Mud Hop”. Kris began studying classical music at the age of 8, but also learned Scandinavian and old time style from her father who played violin, banjo & mandolin. She became accomplished at both styles of music and was soon on piano at the center of many music filled nights spent with family and friends. Kris followed in her mother’s footsteps and studied teaching at the University of Alberta satellite campus in Calgary. She taught in Hesketh, AB and in Camrose, AB and loved her students dearly and often reminisced about her time spent as a teacher. It was while she was teaching in Camrose that she went on a date with Darryl Siddon, a Drumheller boy the son of Ron and Trudie Siddon. They married on August 7, 1965 and lived in Jasper, AB and Rosedale, AB before settling in Forestburg, AB where Darryl was employed as a power engineer with Alberta Power Ltd. (Atco Power). Kris was a full time homemaker and Sunday school superintendent & teacher as they welcomed and raised three children; Kari, Heather and Jonathan. Kris and Darryl embraced their role as parents and raised their children in a loving, Christian home full of fun and fellowship and were very active members of the Hope Lutheran Church in Forestburg. Many happy memories and long lasting friendships were made making music, attending youth group activities & ski trips, organizing VBS & Sunday school activities, driving the station wagon filled with kids to sports activities & summer camps, and painting with her Forestburg Art Club friends. Their home in Forestburg was a welcoming place and Kris always ensured everyone was well fed and made to feel at home. Kris was best known for her musical and artistic gifts, but her baking, sewing, and photography skills were talents she shared with many up to her final days. She was an avid reader who felt one could never have too many books in the home. Her teaching skills were a valuable asset to our family as she continued to educate us through the years about literary definitions, proper pronunciation and spelling. Kris was a humble poet in her younger years and was very surprised to learn she was the recipient of a 1st place prize in a provincial contest her mother had entered her in. Kris was a gentle, loving and caring soul who reached out to many and ministered to all through her personal handwritten letters & cards, and by baking, serving and donating wherever she recognized a need. She had a tender spot for animals and had many pets through the years and kept cookies and treats on hand for her grand-doggers & kitties. In 2003 Kris and Darryl moved from Forestburg to Hanna to live nearer to their grandchildren and soon became a familiar site at the activities their grandchildren were involved in. In Hanna Kris embraced her new community and became well known as a musician of the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Senior Circle choir, and played music for the Hanna lodge and nursing home, the pie jam, and any other opportunity she had to praise the Lord through her musical gift. Kris quickly formed many new friendships through these musical groups and became a member of the Red Hat Society, enjoying her weekly gatherings with this special group of friends, as well as her special friends at Pastor’s coffee hour and her prayer sisters from the Redeemer Lutheran Christian women’s group. On August 7, 2015 Kris and Darryl celebrated 50 years of joy-filled marriage and were looking forward to many more years together when she unexpectedly became sick throughout the summer months. She was a breast cancer survivor and courageous to the end, but even in this last battle she knew her life was in God’s hands and His Will be done. She said she couldn’t have had a better life and was very honoured to have so many wonderful friends and to be included in so many activities and music-making opportunities with them. She has asked us to include this message; “Thank you to all who supported me with prayers, cards, gifts, visits, flowers, food and phone calls. I have said all the way through this, whether I live or die I am going to be fine! Love and God’s Blessings to All.” Kris was predeceased by her parents Gunner and Mina (Oyen) Anderson, her in-laws Ron and Trudie (Humfrey) Siddon and her sister-in-law Donna (Siddon) Orosz. Kris is survived by her husband Darryl Siddon; their children Kari (Giovanni) Bott, Heather (Ron) McMahon and Jonathan Siddon; grandchildren Braedan and Jordan Bott, Nicholas, Jesse, Michael and Sasha Ward, Shea and Kieran McMahon, Brittany, Noah and Aleisha Siddon; great granddaughters Charlie Ward, Alexis Siddon Smith & Hailey Siddon. Kris is also survived by her brother in law Tom (Pat) Siddon, brother in law Fred (Judy) Orosz, sister in law Elaine (Larry) Nielsen and brother in law Ron (Melanie) Siddon; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews and her Anderson and Oyen cousins. In Thanksgiving to God for the life of Kristine Seneva Siddon, a service with music and fellowship will be held on Saturday December 12th at 1:00 p.m. in the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hanna, AB followed by a graveside service at the Hanna Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hanna Food Bank & the Hanna SPCA would be a wonderful tribute to the memory of Kris. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Heartland Funeral Services, Ltd, Hanna, 403-854-2758, www.heartlandfuneralservices.com