Published in The Lake Report, October 22, 2026, page 34.
Passed away peacefully, with family by her side, in her home at Pleasant Manor, on Oct. 11, 2026, at the age of 93.
Anneliese was born on April 22, 1933, in Stolz Plateau, Brazil. With two older brothers, she was the youngest child and only daughter of David and Marie Enns. She was a happy and energetic child, but sadly, was orphaned at age 11 and immigrated to Canada, alone, at age 18 to find work and make a new life for herself. She married Henry Pankratz on Sept. 10, 1955 and settled in St. Catharines and then moved with their four children, to Creek Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1971.
Anneliese’s life revolved around her family, her church and her community. Her servant heart was always at work. The early years were filled with either cooking and baking and hosting family and friends or helping with the apple orchard on the hobby farm. She and Henry enjoyed family camping and road trips out west and to Florida.
At church she was active in the Women in Service and Girls Club and was always willing to do whatever needed to be done. As a school bus driver of over 40 years, she helped generations of students get around Niagara Peninsula safely.
Anneliese made a career of volunteering with MCC at the Christian Benefit Shop in St. Catharines. She was always thrilled to find “perfectly good” items at her store and spent many, many hours serving others in that capacity. She even set up her own “store” in the workshop on Creek Road, so that her friends, the migrant workers could come and get what they needed.
Always a hard worker, leisure for Anneliese and Henry came after the family was grown, with trips to Hawaii, the Caribbean and Brazil and then solo trips with friends after being widowed in 2005. Following those came more road trips out west and camping with grandkids, which continued well into her mid-70s.
Anneliese loved gardens and gardening. Both at home and later at Pleasant Manor, she found great satisfaction in working in, talking about and showing you around her “happy place.” She was never short on stories or instructions when it came to flowers and vegetables.
But hers was not an easy life. She suffered much and had many losses. Amazingly her bright light never dimmed. Her spirit of positivity ran deep and she relied fully on her God to get her through all things. Thankfully she remained healthy for most of her 93 years and was only in decline for the last six months, which she faced with the same determination as always.
Anneliese is predeceased by her husband Henry in 2005, her son Robert “Bob” in 1991 and her youngest grandson Darin in 2016. She is lovingly remembered by Elsie and Chuck, Teri and Dave and Michael. She will always be cherished by grandchildren Jesse, Pamela and Jason, David and Jamelie and Kiera, Jay, Seana and Antoine, Colin and Jackie, Leah and Connor, Ruby, Sophie and Oscar. She was a very special Omi to Bryson, Deaglan, Charlise and Lucas, Lily and Noah, Bennett, Adalyn and Weston.
Very special thanks to the supportive housing team at Pleasant Manor, especially PSW Andrea and chaplain Stephen Mason, who cared so lovingly for mom until the very end of her earthly life. We are forever grateful.
A celebration of Anneliese’s life will take place on Monday, Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. at Niagara United Mennonite Church. A reception will follow the service and then interment will take place at Niagara Lakeshore Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to MCC are appreciated by the family and what Anneliese would have wanted.
The funeral service will be livestreamed. Please visit the online obituary for the link to the livestream. The broadcast will remain available for seven days following the service
Online condolences at www.tallmanfuneralhomes.ca.
