MRS. ANITA ""ANNA"" GARDOZ passed away in Lethbridge on Friday, August 1, 2008, at the age of 85 years old.

Born on January 3, 1923 in Pola, Istria, Italy, Anita spent her youth with her family following their father, who was a lighthouse keeper, along the Istrian peninsula of what was then Italy but later to become part of the former Yugoslavia. There she also survived the German occupation of her homeland during World War II. Shortly after the war she met, fell in love and married Antonio ""Tony"" Gardoz in Salvore, Istria where her father had been stationed as a lighthouse keeper.

In 1954, due to an intolerable political situation Anita, Antonio and by then their young daughter Marina, escaped Communist controlled Yugoslavia by attempting to row across the Adriatic Sea in a small wooden rowboat. They were rescued and brought to Italy where they remained until 1957 when the family emigrated to Canada.

For a time the family hoed sugar beets and lived in a small wooden shack near Coaldale, Alberta but later moved to Lethbridge where Anita worked at the St. Michael's Hospital for many years. Despite many formidable health, language and cultural obstacles Anita managed to raise her family in her adopted country.

Anita is predeceased by her husband Antonio, parents Attilio and Antonia Favretto and sister Amelia. She is survived by her daughter Marina Chapman, son Bruno Gardoz and granddaughter Tammy Tomaski, her brother Enrico and sisters Claudia and Marina.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects between 6:00pm and 8:00pm Monday, August 11, 2008 at MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 - 4 Street South, Lethbridge.

Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at 7:00PM on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPEL.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00AM on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 318 - 10 Street South, Lethbridge, with Father Tim Boyle celebrant.