Ryszarda Anna Rucinska (née Brukalska) was born in Rossosz, in the Lublin-Podlasie region of Poland during the last, terrible months of the World War II. She did not like her first name and always used her second name. While known in Canada as Anna, she was frequently called Hanka by her Polish family and friends. She was the middle child among three sisters, 4 years older Krystyna and 7 year younger Zofia.

Anna was educated as a teacher by attending the Lycée of Pedagogy in Warsaw. She continued her studies of physics and astronomy at Warsaw University, graduating with a Masters of Science degree in 1968. Her intention was to teach at the high-school level. She loved to teach and interact with young people; she worked as a teacher for most of her life. She first taught very successfully at the Adam Mickiewicz 4th Lycée in Warsaw (1970-1980). Married to astronomy researcher Slavek Rucinski since 1969, she endured longer breaks in her beloved teaching, spending time in places of his academic assignments; Victoria, British Columbia from 1975 to 1977, Munich, Germany between 1980 and 1982, and Cambridge, UK from 1982 to 1984. After immigrating to Canada and settling in Toronto in 1984, she first worked as a computer programmer between 1986 and 1992, then was able to return to teaching. She worked at George S. Henry Academy (1992-1994), then moved to Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute as Head of the Computer Department from 1994 until retiring in 2009. She taught mostly Computer Sciences, but also taught Physics when required.

Anna enjoyed teaching at both her Toronto high schools and was liked by students and her colleagues as a friendly and positive person, always ready to offer great advice and highly professional insight, but also not averse to joke and laugh. She was very much liked by students as a fair and highly approachable teacher. While always sensitive to the matter of the under-representation of girls in physics, mathematics and computer science, she stressed the necessity of equity in opportunity and availability of the highest achievable teaching quality. Several of Anna's students reached high distinctions in programming competitions which made her very proud of her bright students. She helped several of them to pursue further studies and research in sciences.

Her greatest pleasure, a point of pride, were the achievements of her son, Jakub, but the subject of her greatest love were her two granddaughters; Emi and Kimiko. The young family of Jakub and Akiko were the focus of Anna's full, unlimited love.

Thanks to her extensive pedagogical and didactic education, Anna enjoyed getting to know people and was often a confidante and advisor to numerous colleagues, acquaintances and friends. She was always ready to help, offering a friendly talk and advice. This continued even during the last year of her rapidly progressing ALS. True to her decisive character and unswerving will, she chose MAID on the day following her and Slavek's 51st Marriage Anniversary. She passed away in the presence of her immediate family.

Anna's ashes are interred at lot R-2086, close to the Funeral Centre of the York Cemetery in Toronto.