Anne Toback, SNJM

Sister Anne Toback was born in Alaska, the only child of Charles and Laura (Gibson) Toback. Following World War II the family relocated to Eugene, Oregon. Anne met the Sisters of the Holy Names at St. Mary’s High School, graduating in 1949. Later that summer she entered the Sisters’ novitiate at Marylhurst. She became a novice in February 1950 receiving her religious name Sister M. Barbara Ellen. She made her first vows in 1951 and professed final vows in 1956.

       Sister Anne began her career in education in 1953 teaching kindergarten through third graders at Holy Names schools in Portland, Lake Oswego, St. Helens, Medford, and Salem.

In 1974 she joined the faculty of the Marylhurst Early Childhood Center, an innovative program implementing new hands-on, activity-based methods for working with children of preschool age. She continued with the Center as Team Leader until 1984.

After a sabbatical and training as a certified nurse assistant, in 1985 Sister Anne began a long ministry to the elderly. The next three years were spent working out of Providence Hospital’s Hospice Home Care Department, working as a hospice volunteer and assisting elder clients in their homes.

Sister Anne joined the staff of the SNJM Care Center at Marylhurst in 1988 as pastoral minister developing an activities program for the elderly and infirm Sisters. Six years later, she became the care center director, a position she held until 1999.

After the opening of Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst in 2001, a continuing care retirement community built on the Sisters’ property, Sister Anne assisted the activity coordinator of the Marie-Rose Center, the assisted living residence. She also volunteered as a Eucharistic minister, had one-on-one visits with residents and taught a “Sit and Be Fit Exercise Class” in the Skilled Care Unit.

For many years Anne was an active participant in MACG (Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good) as a Core Team Member, attending meetings, visiting government officials and “pounding the pavement” of Portland in support of affordable housing. Very close to her heart was also the Faith and Sharing Retreat, a four-day gathering designed to welcome all people—with or without disabilities—to pray, reflect on the gospel, and share life together. She served on their Core Team for five years.

Now fully retired, Sister Anne resides at Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst in Lake Oswego. We rejoice with Sister Anne as she celebrates her 75th anniversary of religious profession.