Anita Marie Provost

Anita Marie Provost was born in Houston, Texas on July 8, 1929 to Adolphus and Ruby Benjamin. She was the oldest of three children born to this union. Anita married Edward Provost in 1955 at St. Benedict’s Catholic church in San Franisco. From this union two children were born. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Edward Provost.

Anita’s family moved from Houston, Texas to San Francisco when she was 13. She attended and graduated from George Washington High School. Thereafter she attended San Francisco State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She became a Kindergarten and First Grade teacher for 35 years in the San Francisco City and County school district.

Anita became a St. Kevin Church parishioner in 1960. She was a catechism teacher, organist and pianist for all these years. She was also a pianist at All Hallows Church in San Francisco and active musically at Easter Hill United Methodist church for several years as a Vacation Bible school teacher. Anita was a musician. After retiring at 65, she learned how to play the harp from SF Symphony harpist Karen Gotlieb.

Furthermore Anita was a member of the All Hallows Young Ladies Institute #182 for 39 years. She was also a member of the Sacred Heart Court #296 Knights of Peter Claver for 27 years. Both of these groups continue and are very dedicated to giving back to the community.

Anita was a world traveler. Some places traveled included Russia, Turkey, India with brother Adolphus and sister Carolyn, Croatia and Jerusalem with friend and hairdresser Annette McKnight, Alaska and Hawaii with friend and helicopter buddy Theresa Horton, London Paris and Rome with daughter, Camille and Mrs. Tompkins and one month in Japan with an exchange family. (just to name a few) Her last trip at age 90 was to Washington DC’s National Museum of African American History and Culture with daughter, grandson and Harrlyn Lacy.

Anita loved her St Kevin Associates. They attended the symphony on a regular basis, traveled to Carmel for retreats and played cards almost every Saturday night. Her number one love was her grandson, Darien. Her wish was to live long enough to see him graduate from college. And she DID!

Anita leaves behind her daughter Margaret, Son Steven, Grandson Darien Thomas, Brother Adolphus Benjamin (Carolyn) Sister Cecelia Williams and a host of nieces, nephews and friends and her turtle Ritchie of approximately 50 years of age.

Acknowledgments

Our family would like to thank Ofa Tuungafasi, Sela Felemi and her favorite entertaining caregiver Veronica Brown for Anita’s assisted care during her last years. We would also like to thank St Kevin Associates, Deacon Dan and all who called, sent cards and donations and many acts of kindness to our family.

Thank you to Father Andrew of All Hallows Church and Pastor Dale of Easter Hill UMC for giving Anita her last rites.

Repast after Interment at St Kevin Church Hall

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