Myrtle Anderson, the mother of musician and artist Joni Mitchell,
died early Monday morning. She was 95.
Anderson and her husband, Bill, moved to Saskatoon when
Mitchell was nine years old. Bill, 96, continues to reside in the city.
"She brought so much joy into (our) lives," family friend Ron
Lamb said of Anderson. "Myrtle was a tremendous woman. She was very intelligent."
Anderson and her husband were living in Fort Macleod, Alta.,
when Mitchell was born. The family moved to Maidstone and then
to North Battleford, eventually settling in Saskatoon.
Anderson taught elementary school in southern Saskatchewan
until she married. Anderson's only child, Mitchell, 63, was recently
inducted into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. That
occasion was the last time family friend Bob Hinitt spoke to
Anderson.
"We had a really nice conversation about Joni. I just let her
know how wonderful Joni was that night," Hinitt said. "(But)
you'd never know Myrtle had a famous daughter. She never
bragged about Joni. She was a very unassuming and modest
woman."
Hinitt was Mitchell's French teacher and art mentor in high
school. Mitchell would bring Anderson to Hinitt's house,
where they would sit in the garden admiring the flowers
while drinking tea and chatting.
"We're always called (by the media) to talk about Joni, so
it's nice to talk about Myrtle," Hinitt said.
Lamb became friends with Anderson after meeting Bill
during a golf game. He has known the couple about 15
years.
"Myrtle had this phenomenal laugh. It was just like
Joni's-it was sort of like a laugh and a giggle at the same
time," Lamb said.
The Andersons have always been supportive of their
daughter's career, Lamb said, adding it was Anderson who
instilled the love of nature in Mitchell.
Lamb said Mitchell will be in Saskatoon for the funeral
later this week.
Copyright protected material on this website is used in accordance with 'Fair Use', for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis, and will be removed at the request of the copyright owner(s). Please read Notice and Procedure for Making Claims of Copyright Infringement.
Added to Library on March 22, 2007. (9151)
Comments:
Log in to make a comment