Frances Ellen Anderson

ANDERSON, Frances Ellen (Hennessey) Of Shelburne, Vermont, and Gloucester, Massachusetts, died at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington, Vermont, just before midnight on Saturday, November 29, 2008. She was born at Bellows Falls, Vermont, on 10 November 1916, eldest child of John Charles Hennessey and Katherine Bernadette (Herlihy) Hennessey. During the course of her rich, active and long life, she earned recognition as a community leader, while raising a large extended family and nurturing a wide range of friends and acquaintances. After attending St. Charles School and Bellows Falls High School, she graduated from the University of Vermont in 1938 with a degree in biology. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi and of Mortar Board, and has been active all her life in alumni activities, attending her 70th reunion earlier this year. She served on the executive council of the UVM Alumni Association and, in 1986, received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the university. In September 1942 she enlisted in the United States Navy in the WAVES, and served in the code departments in San Francisco and Boston. In November 1943 she was discharged with the rank of Ensign. In recent years she was an active member of WAVES National, an alumni association. On 14 August 1943, she married at Bellows Falls Albert Ernest Anderson, who was at that time serving in the United States Army. While residing in Cleveland, Ohio, a few years after the war, they began a business which became New England Business Service, or NEBS, a leading producer and supplier by direct mail of customized business forms for small businesses. They moved to Townsend, Massachusetts, in late 1951, running the business as a two-person operation, with Fran serving as clerk and bookkeeper. They were joined by a partner, Jay Rhoads, in 1955, and Fran served as personnel director of NEBS until 1965. The company was purchased by Deluxe Corp. in 2004. While residing in Townsend, Pepperell, Harvard and Groton, Massachusetts, from the 1950's through 2004, Fran was active in many community organizations. She served for 18 years as a trustee of the Nashoba Community Hospital and later the Deaconess Nashoba Hospital in Ayer. She chaired the hospital's board from 1976 through 1978, as the first woman to hold that position. She also served on the hospital's audit, finance and executive committees, and was later named an honorary trustee. She was also proud of her 30 years as a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, for which she served a term as president. Fran also served as a trustee of the Groton Public Library. While a resident of Harvard, she chaired a study committee that recommended purchase by the town of the Hildreth House. For their contributions, Fran and Al in 1984 received honorary degrees from Fitchburg State College as Doctor of Public Service. In 1994 the college named them two of the 100 people who "have made a difference" in the region. For 45 years, Fran enjoyed a summer home at Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts. She was predeceased by her husband, son Bruce J. Anderson, and brothers John C. Hennessey and William H. Hennessey. She is survived by sisters Katherine Hennessey of Bellows Falls and Joan Matulis of Roslindale, Massachusetts, sons Robert C. Anderson of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Lawrence G. Anderson and his wife Nan Haffenreffer of Little Compton, Rhode Island, and Albert E. Anderson Jr. and his wife Sandra of Hinesburg, Vermont, daughters Christine O'Donnell and her husband Kenneth of Westford, Vermont, Elizabeth Fowler and her husband Edwin of Sutton, New Hampshire, and Barbara Brammer of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and grandchildren Sam Anderson, Molly and Jamie O'Donnell, Nathan, Sara and Amanda Anderson, Edwin, Nissa and John Fowler, and Denise and Corey Brammer, all of whom benefited from her love and loved her in return. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 am Saturday, December 6, 2008 at St. James Church, St. James Avenue, West Groton. Burial will be in Groton Cemetery. Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8PM, Friday, December 5th at the T.J. Anderson & Son Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, Rte 2A, AYER. Please see www.andersonfuneral.com for additional information. Donations may be sent to the Frances Hennessey Anderson Scholarship Fund, 411 Main St., University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401.