Anne Anderson

Anne Stanton Pearson Anderson went Home to God on April 24th after a lengthy affliction with Alzheimer's disease.  She was in the embrace of her eldest son, and had been attended by her four children, grandchildren and son-in-law, every moment for the final six days of her life.

Anne was born in Needham, Massachusetts on March 31, 1944 to (John) Frank and Doris (Stanton) Pearson.  She graduated from Needham High School in 1961 where she worked diligently as the Editor of the School Newspaper, The Hilltopper.  She earned a BA in Early Childhood Education from Framingham State College in 1965. She married Neil Paul Anderson on June 26th, 1965 and they came so close to celebrating their dream of a 50th Anniversary by reaching their 47th , still very much in love.  They were thrilled to take the trip-of-a-lifetime together to St. Croix where they tested their deep-water scuba diving skills together in an open water dive.

During her lifetime, Anne worked as a Head Start teacher and a teacher's aide in various schools in Massachusetts, Florida and Vermont, including Sacred Heart Elementary School, here in Newport, VT.  She was a voracious reader, a talented south paw water-color artist, a wonderful short story writer and she loved taking classes in everything from quilting to belly-dancing.  Anne was renowned for "swimming jetty to jetty and back", the equivalent of a frigid Atlantic mile, with her loyal German Shepherd, Abby, by her side, near her home in Sagamore Beach, MA.

Anne was a Roman Catholic who loved and lived her Faith.  A person of compassion, intelligence and diligence, she volunteered at each Church and in every school and community she graced. She loved all creatures great and small, particularly people. She was the kindest person we have ever known and never held a grudge.  Anne possessed the Irish gift of gab inextricably linked with a genuine sense of play: after a spirited, and very occasional argument with a family member, Anne's emerald green eyes would flash as she queried: "Why don't you walk down to the beach, and swim to France?"

Anne's true passions in life were loving her family and raising her four children, Neila Anderson-Decelles (Paul), Bill Anderson (Kathy), Paul Anderson, and Sean Anderson (Beth).  She was a superlative Nannie to grandkids Kyle (Erika), Andy (Jill), Dan (Lily), Emma, Cole (Harry), Lane (Courtney), Gabrielle, Logan and Josh.  She was blessed by a "Great Grand", Marie-Fleur, in June.

When her husband Neil retired, the Andersons lived in many cities and towns of Massachusetts, Vermont and Florida.  Anne lived in Duxbury, MA, after her husband Neil passed in 2011.  She resided in Newport, Vermont for the past six years of her life where she was lovingly attended by the exceptional staff at Bel-Aire.  It is a testament to Anne's legacy of Faith, Hope and Love that so many folks at Bel-Aire came to say goodbye to Anne, in her final week of life: "Annie", the woman who lovingly called everyone "Darlin", even in her vast confusion, even in her greatest pain. (In her Bostonian accent, it sounded so much more like "Dahlin"!)

Anne was predeceased by her parents, Doris and Frank Pearson, her brother, John Pearson, and her niece, Kathy Pearson.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, May 7th at Curtis Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Derby, from 5 to 7 PM.  A Roman Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Star of the Sea in Newport on Wednesday May 8th at 9 AM, celebrated by Anne's Pastor, Father Rijo, followed by her burial at 2:30 PM at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford, MA. Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.