Obituary of Annette Parrish
Annette Parrish, 64, of Boulder, CO, died peacefully at home on Sunday morning, June 11, 2017 with her husband, daughter, and sister by her side. She had waged a courageous battle against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain cancer for two and a half years, with the amazing attitude “why not me?”
She and her twin sister Anita were born at Boulder Sanitarium (Fourth and Mapleton) on March 20, 1953 to Homer and Frieda (Riegel) Wyman.
Annette attended grade schools in Denver, Boulder, Florida, and Estes Park before graduating from high school at Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado in 1971. She then studied at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, receiving an Associate’s Degree in Office Management in 1973. She met her future husband Larry Parrish that same year and they were married in Boulder on October 19, 1975. They recently celebrated their 42nd anniversary.
Upon graduation she managed the medical office of Dr. Dale Marcotte, a local ophthalmologist, for ten years.
Shortly after the birth of her daughter Lindsay in 1982, she assumed the full-time role of mother and homemaker for 15 years, constantly volunteering at Lindsay’s school, Girl Scout troop, and East Boulder Baptist Church (EBBC), before pursuing her passion for fine art. Her father, who had been a commercial artist, inspired her. Her specialty was representational art, mostly landscapes in acrylic. After many years at Art Work Space Boulder, she and artist friend Mary Barron started their own studio/gallery in north Boulder, called The Loft Art Studios, which they operated for five years.
Taking a hiatus from painting, Annette agreed to help in the family construction business for a few months, which her husband managed to stretch to ten years. She had a passion for business systems and procedures, was a strong customer advocate, and served as Vice President of Parrish Construction Company. Her husband closed the business in December of 2015 to concentrate on her. She had been diagnosed in December of 2014.
All her personal activities were centered on her family and church. She loved dark chocolate, the Colorado Rocky Mountains, beachcombing, scuba diving, ballroom dancing, and travel. She designed and managed many home improvement projects, and researched her German-Russian heritage, traveling twice to the family village in Russia. She especially enjoyed family reunions, and helped plan many of them. As an active member of EBBC for almost 40 years, she was a zealous leader of children’s ministries. She was creative, passionate, tireless, and fiercely loyal.
Throughout her illness, Annette found great joy and comfort in the nearly constant company of her 2-year-old granddaughter Gabriella (and Gabi’s parents, of course). Attending her birth and being with her almost every day, especially both birthdays and all holidays, was the highlight of Annette’s life.
Annette was also lifted by the love and prayers of a great many friends and family around the world. As a woman of great Christian faith, she had no fear of death and was confident in her ultimate reward in Heaven.
She is survived by husband, Larry Parrish of Boulder; sister, Anita (Ed) Smith of Dauphin, PA; brother Bob Wyman of Westminster, CO; daughter, Lindsay (Boris) Krupa of Chicago, IL; and two-year-old granddaughter, Gabriella Krupa. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Ray Wyman.
The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff of Homewatch Caregivers of Boulder County, Complete Home Health Care, Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, and TRU Community Care of Lafayette for their dedication, professionalism, and compassion in caring for Annette.
There will be a private burial at Mountain View Memorial Park in Boulder. A public Celebration of Life will be held at Calvary Bible Church, 3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301 on Sunday, July 2, at 2:00 pm.