ANTHONY, Edna Viola

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ May 28, 1997 Edna Viola Anthony of Wickenburg died May 23 in Wickenburg. She was 75. Mrs. Anthony was born Dec. 21, 1921 in Montana. She had lived in Wickenburg for more than 50 years, and was well-known in the community for her charity while operating a nursing home, “Edna’s House,” here for many years. Survivors include her daughter, Sandra Anthony of Mesa; son Ole Anthony of Dallas, Texas, Texas; sisters Irene Pace and Olive Hoymie; brother Emmitt Norell; grandchildren Brenda Stubbs of Gilbert and Renae Dunne of Dover, Penn.; and great-granddaughter Janae Dunne of Dover. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Anthony; and her parents, Edwin and Gertrude Norell. The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ May 28, 1997 ‘Institution in Wickenburg” Edna Anthony, dead at 75 Operated Edna’s House, a nursing home, on charitable principle that no one be turned away Edna Viola Anthony, a lady “who was an institution in Wickenburg” because of her charitable efforts in running a nursing home in the community for many years, died Friday, May 23 at the age of 75. Mrs. Anthony, who lived in community for more than 50 years, and was hospitalized at the age 14 and during that time made a decision to become a nurse. She opened Edna’s House in 1968 after working for years at Wickenburg Community (now Regional) Hospital, where she delivered over 300 babies. “My mother was an institution in Wickenburg,” said her son, Ole, who is a publisher in Dallas, Texas. “People that knew her had a common reference: “She was a saint.” Mrs. Anthony made certain that the amenities she offered at her nursing home were affordable to anyone. A trademark of her home was the fact she allowed residents to keep pets, and also cooked their favorite meals. While most nursing homes charged 1,200 to 1,600 a month at the time for such care, she charged on $350. For those who had no insurance or funds or Medicare, she provide for them free of charge. “I feel like these people’s earning power is over,” she was quoted as saying. “They have no way of earning any more money and when you go into those places where they charge such exorbitant amounts, it’s a hardship on everyone.” “She lived her faith,” said her son, Ole Anthony is a 1956 graduate of Wickenburg High School, and Mrs. Anthony’s daughter, Sandra, is also a WHS graduate.