CRUSE, Anna Wendy:
On 5 January 2025, Anna died as she lived, on her own terms.
Anna was a loved daughter, mother, sister, aunty, and friend.
“She will be missed”.
Messages to the ‘Cruse Family’ can be sent c/- Grinter’s Funeral Home, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge 3434 or in her online tribute book on this page.
A celebration of Anna’s life will be held at Woodside Estate, 132 Woodside Road, Tamahere, Hamilton on Friday, 10 January 2025 at 11.00 am. In the days following Anna’s service, she will be buried at sea.
Grinter's Funeral Home © 2025
17 Messages:
HI Family,
We were so sorry to hear of Anna’s passing.
We knew Anna through the medieval movement & will always remember her as a fun and vibrant soul.
Fly free Anna xox
Bee, Clyde & Phaedy
I would have met Anna around 2002 / 2003, under rather unusual circumstances (but that’s hardly surprising)… At that time she was very active in Argent Lords, and I joined the troupe doing Medieval entertainment for large dinner events – dancing, singing, Mummers plays, a little sword fighting, and moving into belly dance, cabaret and acrobatics. So many paths I got to follow in these past twelve years have been at least partly due to, or affected by, Anna’s influence – especially the Silver Circle Productions group and shows, Circus and burlesque, LARP…. My life has been so much richer and full of delight due to these things, and it really helped balance the seriousness for me of being a therapist.
Anna touched SO many people’s lives, and lived her own to the full. My heart goes out to her family and those that were close to her, and I hope you will all find peace with this.
I remember the first time I met Anna ~ it was on the bus going to a violin shop. I was taking my hired fiddle back and couldn’t remember where the Fiddle Shop was, and saw a woman sitting opposite me with a violin case. I thought: Oh good, I can follow her. We both got off the bus, and she asked me if I knew where the Fiddle Shop was! Well, we found it, and it was busy, and so we got chatting. I told her I like medieval music, and she told me runs this medieval group, would I be interested in joining? And would I be keen to go to hers for lunch? Well, I bought my hired fiddle, and we laughed all the way on the bus back to town. This was the day before Halloween almost 20 years ago. Anna had such a great laugh, and it was so much fun making her laugh. Wherever she went, she laughed and created the most amazing communities. I feel so honoured and privileged that she was part of my life. She was larger than life in life, and larger than life in death. Rock on, Anna, my wonderful friend <3
Condolences from the Alexander Family.
My much loved Aunty and godmother, Wendy, and Uncle Maurice.
On behalf of the Kendall side of the family, I am so sorry for the loss of your eldest daughter Anna.
I am the eldest of the 11 cousins and Anna is the first to pass.
Another generation begins to move on.
May God comfort you Aunty Wendy and Uncle Maurice in your sad loss.
Anna, I only spent one day with you a few years back, just one day before I embarked on a big unsuspended adventure. You let me stay the night in your bus. In this little time we spent together, you have taught me so much, inspired and encouraged me to be my true myself unapologetically. Thank you for welcoming me. Thank you for hosting me. Thank you for sharing your life with me. You have become the role model which I so desperately needed. I truly appreciate you and I am honoured to have met you.
Safe travels, my friend.
I met Anna through Laura, at a bar I frequent at in Auckland. My fondest memories of Anna would be her telling me about the funny things she did with Laura after a bit too much to drink back in the day, how wonderful it felt when she was riding her motorcycle and we kind of geeked out on how to make sausages and what flavours might be epic to try.
The final time I got to see her was when I was walking back to the bar at 5pm. She was under a tree at the fountains by chancery square, enjoying the breeze with her eyes soft and smiling. She looked so calm and happy to be taking in the moment, the sights and sounds around her.
I’m blessed that I have so many memories of Anna, no matter how short a time Ive known her and I’ll cherish them like how she cherished every moment of living life to its fullest.
Anna will be remembered as the outgoing happy person that lit up a room when she entered. The way she handled her illness, resisting it in every way she could was an inspiration to us all. I think we all wish we had that resilience and courage.
You will be sadly missed, Anna.
With fond memories,
Mick
Dear Anna,
It was a wonderful experience to come to know you when you lived in Helensville. It was through you that I met Lisa, my first girlfriend, and I have never forgotten your help and support during that process!
Much love
Nick
Thank you Anna for being such a wonderful friend. You have taught me so much…like how to set myself on fire but, more importantly to make the very most of life and have the best time doing it. One of my favourite memories is going with you to the Highland Games in Waipu. You asked one of the gents if you could have a look at his broadsword. He was ohh it’s pretty heavy. You just looked at him and said you could handle it. Then proceeded to show him up, much to the amusement of his friends. Absolute legend! I’m going to miss your quick wit, huge heart and rib crushing hugs.
Anna was a very ‘present’ personality leading our Death Cafe group. And how loving she was! And eloquent. She encouraged all of us to address our own issues, in that safe setting. What an impression she made in all our lives, as she bravely faced her own diagnosis, & never shrunk from her future. Her sense of humour was evident & she had a great ability to put everything into perspective!
I am so grateful to have met Anna, & her lovely daughter Eloise. I am so sorry that such a great person has passed from our company. I can’t be there at her fabulous service but I’m sure it will be memorable. Much love & thoughts to you, Eloise, & any other family members.
RIP Anna Cruse you will be missed for sure.
My 1st time away with OTBT you took me under your wing, told me you are going to set me on fire 🔥 WTF. And you did….lol so much fun. You did a skydive that year with the girls, I didn’t have the budget for it but you offered to pay for me (who does that for a total stranger) you are genuine, kind, crazy, fun, a wind sister I will never forget ❤️🩹. Keep riding those highways in heaven – till we meet again x x
I’d befriended Anna just shy of two years ago. Within a short space of that time, she had made a compelling impact on me as someone walking more closely with death than anyone else. She wore death, laced with bravery and humour. I wasn’t initially sure at first, but I quickly warmed up to that (I mean, come on – we both attended a death-themed cafe group).
Despite the emotionally stigmatised theme, or maybe because of it, Anna was certainly larger than life to me and a lot of others. We spoke about everything and anything when the opportunity arose, and shared a particular fondness for certain authors.
I’m incredibly grateful for our interactions, and inspired by them. Her final gift to me was an attitude I will certainly find helpful in my own twilight.
Thank you so much, Anna.
I only met you once in Gizzy. You were very open about your destiny. You had just rode many mile with my wife Cheri. May you rest in peace
Dear Anna,
It’s been an honour.
To paraphrase Dylan Thomas’ famous poem, you did not go gently into that good night, you burned, and raved, and raged, until the close of day!
Yours has been a hell of story we will be privileged to tell in the future.
Wherever you are, rock on!
Thankyou for being my friend Anna. You have always been an inspiration to me. I absolutely loved hearing your stories of your travels and all the fun stuff you got up to. And thankyou for lighting me on fire lol. That is one memory I’m never going to forget. I really didn’t want to but your people skills and assurance that I wouldn’t go up in flames and be burned to death was enough for me to give it a go, and waa laa it all went according to plan. You were such a colourful and full of life bad ass biker babe and someone I really looked up to. I’m going to miss your “hey chik” hugs, your cheeky smile and your infectious laughter, but I have the most beautiful and fun memories of all the times we spent together and these I wish cherish for eternity. I’ve got a post it note on my fridge which says “Anna says give it a go, just try, what have you got to lose”. This will now be my lifes mantra. Ride free beautiful lady. It was an honor and privilege to call you my friend. Rest in love and peace ❤️
Heartfelt Condolences.
Anna will always be remembered as the cheerful, fun loving, daring member of our family. Always living life to the fullest and on her terms. Brave with it!
Penny and Mark Thomas and family.