Services scheduled for Saturday May 2, 2020 have been postponed. A date for Autumn of 2020 will be announced.
Annie (née Ana Cristina Planas-Galliano), our beloved wife, mother and sister, died in Ottawa January 3, 2020 at the age of 76. She will be deeply missed by her husband of almost 54 years Gaby Warren, daughters Cristina, Abby (Alex) and Lily (Chris), sisters Rosa (Clemente), Mercedes and Miriam (Isis), brothers Roque (Kendall) and Miguel (Denise), grandsons Charlie and Walt, and family and friends in Ottawa, Toronto, Miami, Puerto Rico, Spain and Cuba.
Annie was born in Manzanillo, Cuba, the daughter of Dr. Roque Planas and Cristina Galliano-Planas. June 9, 1963 she met her husband-to-be Gaby who had just started his posting at the Canadian Embassy in Havana. A brilliant student, Annie had to abandon her biology studies at the University of Havana to leave Cuba with her family as refugees in July 1965. Gaby and Annie were married in Toronto February 11, 1966. Between postings with Gaby in Rome and Geneva, autumn UN sessions in New York and the birth of three daughters, Annie completed her BA (Psychology) and Master of Social Work at Carleton University. She had a successful career as a social worker at Ottawa Children’s Aid and in the Emergency Department and ICU of the Civic Hospital.
Annie was also a founding member and Chair of the National Association of Cuban-Canadians, an Ottawa-based organization that promoted Cuban culture, lobbied the Canadian Government on behalf of Cuban immigrants to Canada who struggled to reunite their families in their adopted country, and promoted the defense of Human Rights in her native Cuba.
In retirement Annie became a creative quilter and played a leading role in the crafts group which for many years worked all year to organize the pre-Christmas bazaars at Notre Dame Cathedral. Annie enjoyed getting together regularly with her Civic Hospital colleagues and her Spanish-speaking luncheon group. She enjoyed travel and attending classical and jazz concerts with Gaby.
A private Funeral Mass took place in Ottawa January 8, 2020. Donations may be made in Ana Warren’s name to The Dementia Society of Ottawa.