It is with profound grief and sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful daughter, Anna. Anna was a radiant and vibrant soul, illuminating everything and everyone with her love, light, and energy. Anna loved life and lived hers to the fullest of her ability. She loved her family and friends, and never allowed an opportunity to pass to let them know with a big hug, a smile, a kind word, or a compliment.

Born in Seattle, she spent her summers in the beautiful San Juan Islands and most of her school years in the loving Loyal Heights neighborhood of Ballard, Seattle. Between the two places, she created a balance in her life between the very different communities and environments. Anna spent every summer of her life in the Islands, the first ten on tiny Obstruction Island and the rest on San Juan Island. There, she explored the beaches and woods, rode horses and bikes, watched whales and other wildlife, and took boat rides and day trips to other islands. In Ballard, she played at Golden Gardens and Greenlake, attended school, participated in neighborhood sports and activities, and enjoyed the cultural and recreational resources of the city. Anna was the type of person who could adapt to any scenario, but it was San Juan Island that eventually captured her heart and where she felt at home. Anna moved to San Juan Island full-time with her family in 2019 and graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 2022. Anna worked hard her senior year and received a varsity letter in golf as well as several academic scholarships.

After graduation, Anna moved to Bellingham and attended classes at Whatcom Community College with plans to transfer to Western Washington University. She especially enjoyed her art classes and was becoming quite the jeweler and ceramist. Anna was a hard worker and held many jobs while in school, including a fun season at Mt. Baker Ski Area making new friends and improving her snowboarding skills. She was loved as an employee at the Black Cat in Fairhaven as well as her summer job at the Riptide Café in Friday Harbor. Everywhere Anna went, she made a positive impression with her bright and bubbly personality, smile and laugh.

During her life, Anna also traveled far and wide with her family on short and long extended trips around the world including Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Spain, France, England, Norway, Italy, and Canada as well as many US states, especially Hawaii. Our family will forever cherish the memories of the special experiences and adventures we had together. In September, Anna celebrated her last birthday in Bergen, Norway, while on a special trip abroad with her brother, Owen. Although she loved to travel, she was always glad to return to the island and community she deeply loved.

Anna loved nature and animals, with a special lifelong affection for horses. As soon as she was big enough to sit by herself on a horse, she wanted to be at a stable. Even if she wasn’t able to ride, she loved being there, brushing and feeding them, even mucking out stalls. As she got older, she enjoyed competing in the western games of the San Juan County Fair, usually on one of her favorite horses, Paint or Brookie. At 16, she adopted an almost-horse-sized dog, Quincy, who has been her constant companion ever since. She was a great caretaker of all living things. Anna enjoyed spending time outside and had a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world. She was driven to capture the beauty of people, animals, and places through her photography, journal, and diverse artwork. She was a creative, curious, and nurturing soul.

Anna loved the island life and dreamed of having her own land to homestead. She talked about it all the time and wrote about it in her journals. “When I think about what I want, I think about my homestead, gardening with my animals and the people that I love. I think about myself with a beaming smile, just so happy and excited about life” (Anna Albert, May 18, 2024). This summer she had just planted her first garden, which is still growing and being cared for in her honor. We want to keep Anna’s dreams and wishes alive by purchasing some land and creating a community garden, preserve, or sanctuary in her name. A memorial account has been set up in Anna’s name through Savi Bank in Friday Harbor. Donations can be made through her memorial page https://everloved.com/life-of/anna-albert/ or directly through any Savi Bank branch. Thank you for your consideration in donating to Anna’s Homestead Fund.

Anna’s tragic passing, at the fault of a reckless driver, has left an unmeasurable hole in the hearts and lives of those who knew and loved her. She leaves behind her loving parents, Peter and Kimberly, her brother, Owen, her dog, Quincy and cats, JJ and Kitty, all of her grandparents, cousins, and great aunts and uncles. She also leaves behind her boyfriend, Weston, and close friends and families in Bellingham, Seattle, San Juan Island, and Colorado who have known and loved her during the timeline of her life. She is and will continue to be immensely missed. We will honor her life with ours and make her proud.

Thank you for your love and support.

Contributed photo Anna Albert at graduation.