Anna Toole

Anna Vee Toole's personality shone like a beacon - beaming and hopeful for everyone around her. She was a selfless and giving person that never passed up another in need. Throughout her life Anna was a model of devotion and love, a smart and funny mother who illuminated and touched many lives.

The year was 1918 and America was in the midst of all-encompassing change. The swirling tempest of war began to cease over in Europe as the cities swelled and bloated with the burden of industry. Soldiers returned home to find that many of the traditional values they left behind were being swept away in favor of a modern lifestyle. Amid this era of progression and transformation, a farming family in Oakland City, Indiana welcomed their seventh and youngest child. Anna Vee was much younger than the rest of her siblings. In fact, 25 years separated her from the oldest child. Her parents were strict Baptists and she was brought up to be very respectful and restrained. When Anna's mother had a heart attack, Anna was left to take over most of the household chores. She would cook and keep the house, and also helped her father on the farm. It was tough work, but her help was required as the family was barely getting by. Anna found solace with the livestock of the farm; she treated each animal as a pet. Anna saw her interaction as kindness even though the animals began to behave like pets instead of livestock. She had a pet chicken she called Bobby and had names for several of the ducks. She would pull her fowl friends along the dusty paths in her wagon when she was a little girl. Her gentle hand caused some trouble when one cow in particular would only allow Anna to milk her.

When Anna grew up and moved out, her father had to sell the cow as it wouldn't give milk to anybody else. Despite Anna's willingness to help on the farm, her family was extremely poor. As a child she had only 2 dresses, one was only to wear while the other was being washed. She would carry her shoes wherever she went - wearing them in transit would decrease their durability. She walked all the way to school barefoot, and then put her shoes on once she arrived.

Anna was an excellent student. Whereas most girls only attended school up until the 6th or 7th grade, Anna actually graduated from high school - two years early in fact. This was an extra special feat due to her rigorous daily chore routine. She had a close friend at school named Eileen Toole whom she spent a lot of time with. Eileen happened to have a brother named Ed who was quite handsome. Anna and Ed became friends in their own right and a romance followed. Eventually Eileen got a boyfriend too, named Brownie and the four spent lots of time together. On September 3rd, 1940, both couples eloped to Hopkinsville, Kentucky. This double marriage set the two couples up for a close relationship that would last throughout the years. Back home, the marriage was kept a secret for almost six months, because of school being attended by the newly-weds.

At that point, Ed headed off to take classes at Evansville University, and Anna final left the farm to join her new husband. She would return periodically throughout her life, as she always referred to Oakland City as "her home." World War II erupted just a few months later and it threatened to change the lives of the newlyweds. Ed did his part by moving the family to Akron, Ohio where he worked designing and building aircraft. He wasn't drafted much to the relief of Anna. This tense time eventually passed and the couple began to think about starting a family. They had their first child in 1944: a son who they named Gary Edward. A few years later, Anna and Ed tried to have another child but her pregnancy ended in a miscarriage that almost killed Anna. She became very frail and weak and doctors told her that she could never carry another baby to term. This depressed Anna greatly, as she had a very strong sense of family and loved children. She became pregnant again nearly 5 years later and faced a scary situation. She bravely decided to have the child no matter what. She spent almost the entire pregnancy in bed for health reasons, but miraculously had a healthy baby girl whom she named Barbara.

The early years for the Toole family were tough. Anna sometimes found herself taking the smallest portion at dinner so her children could have more to eat. She was always selfless in these matters - putting herself last and her family first. She became the leader of her daughter's brownie troop and would devote extra time to a certain young girl who didn't have a mother. Anna would take this girl aside and brush her hair, giving her special attention that only a mother could give. Anna was always like this. She never hesitated to help out someone who was less fortunate. She became very active in the women's guild at the Methodist Church where the family attended. Anna was an outstanding mother. Eventually, times got better for the family when Ed took a job building power plants. The family moved around so that Ed could oversee the construction of new plants and this exposed the family to many new and interesting experiences. Ed and Anna stayed close friends with Eileen and Brownie, as well as two of her brothers in-law who worked with Ed. These couples had lots of fun times together over the years. Anna loved to cook dinner for her friends; they would then stay up all night playing cards and sleep late the next morning. Anna was a tremendous card player who could throw spades and play bridge with the best. When Ed retired, they settled back in Holland and devoted their time to having fun. She loved to go bowling and almost scored a perfect game one time. When her children began to have kids of their own, Anna discovered the joys of being a grandmother. She relished her new role and spoiled her grandkids rotten. She used to let them run wild all over her basement and she bought plenty of games and toys for them. Her cooking brought the entire family running - 7 layer salad, Blackberry Cobbler, homemade breads, Chicken and Dumplings…all perfect, every time. She would strike up the piano or organ and play sing-a-longs by ear, especially "Little Green Valley." Anna really found her niche as a grandmother, looking out for the needs of her family.

Anna's family got the chance to return her years of kindness when Ed died. Anna lived with her daughter Barbara and son in-law Ev for the last years of her life, seeing that Anna made it to dialysis three times a week. Despite her situation, Anna remained jovial and optimistic. For Anna, life was not lived through material possessions. Anna lived her life through acts of kindness and love, with her family as her greatest asset. Throughout her life she was a spark that brought the best out of everyone around her.

Anna Vee Toole died Saturday, June 14th 2003 at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids. She is preceded in death by her husband William Edward Toole in 2000 and son Gary in 2002. She is survived by her daughter Barbara and Everett Vidro of Holland, her daughter in law Margie Toole of Holland; 8 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends will greet family and friends on Tuesday from 7-9 PM and services will be held on Wednesday, June 18th at 1:00 PM at the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes located at 188 West 32nd Street in Holland, with The Rev. Doug Fauble officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Gardens. To read Anna's complete life story, share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the American Kidney Foundation, please visit her personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com. Anna was an exceptional person who enriched the lives of all she came into contact with. The warmth of her smile and her caring demeanor will be greatly missed.