John found work as a City Councilman and though he and Anna were not as wealthy as they might have been if they had access to his inheritance, they were blissfully happy. In 1509, five years after they were married, their first child was born. They chose to name him Gerald, in honour of John’s belligerent father. They went on to have two more children – Margaret born in 1510 and Agatha, born in 1512. Gerald turned out to be a beautiful and intelligent child who became the instrument that softened his grandfather’s heart toward his parents.

Gerald Senior found out about his namesake on a visit to the market when the child’s nurse had brought him along with her to purchase produce. The child reminded him of John when he was young and upon further inquiry, he was informed that the child was, in fact, John’s son. Gerald senior was so enamoured with his grandson that he wanted to adopt him, and Anna and John willingly gave him their consent.

Despite his father's displeasure displeasure John von Knonau held several important offices in the Zurich City Council and his family, though not extremely wealthy, was comfortable. In 1513, John joined the Swiss forced which marched into Italy to assist the Pope and the Emperor against the French in the battle for Milan. When John eventually returned from war he was broken in health and died shortly thereafter on the 26th of November 1517 leaving Anna a widow, responsible for the care of three children.

Anna was also an ardent Bible student. When Luther’s German translation of the Old Testament was translated in Swiss German by the leaders of the Reformation in Zurich, Zwingli is reported to have read the proof sheets to Anna every evening before they retired to bed. It became one of her favourite activities each day. When the Old Testament was finally published in Swiss German in 1529, Zwingli gifted Anna a copy. She worked hard to disseminate this translation of the Bible among the citizens of Zurich, urging them to study Scripture in their native tongue.

Another role Anna needed to assume was that of the consummate hostess to the numerous intellectuals that often associated with Zwingli. Many of the leading academics and theologians from across Europe frequented the Zwingli’s home and Anna hosted them with grace and finesse. Not long after her own marriage to Zwingli, Anna’s son Gerald married at the age of 16 in 1525. He then became a prominent member of the Zurich City Council like his father.

However, despite the blessings Anna received from her years as Zwingli’s wife, her second marriage ended tragically. Though Zwingli and his fellow reformers had made progress in spreading and establishing the Reformation throughout Switzerland there were still a considerable number of Cantons which were ardently Catholic. These Cantons saw the Reformation as a threat on every level – religious, cultural, social, economic and political – to their established way of life.

Growing tensions between the Catholic Cantons and the Reformed Cantons led to the outbreak of war in 1529. The conflict dragged on for two years, ravaging the countryside and wreaking havoc throughout Switzerland. In 1531 Zwingli and Gerald were drawn into the fray. Ill prepared for war Zwingli believed that he would not return home. Sadly this inkling proved to be true. Both Zwingli and Gerald died during the Battle of Keppel in 1531.

When Anna heard the news, she collapsed in a haze of grief and tears. Not only had she been deprived of her husband yet again, but she was also bereft of her beloved son. When she first received the news Anna is reported to have cried “O God! Strengthen me for this trying hour!” Mercifully she was surrounded by family and friends who supported her through trial. After the initial shock of the news had passed Anna is reported to have said “God is faithful, who will not suffer his people to be tried above what they are able but will with the trial also make a way to escape that they may be able to bear it.” Her hand remained firmly clasped in God’s hand throughout the darkest hour of her life.

After Zwingli’s death Anna and her younger children were cared for by Zwingli’s disciple and friend Heinrich Bullinger. He opened his home and his heart to the bereaved family, treating Anna with the tender respect of a spiritual mother. Anna died seven years later on the 6th of December 1538. Through all the vicissitudes of her life her faith remained a constant anchor, sheltering her from the worst of the storm.