ANDERSON, Deborah Ann (Shanley) Age 72, of Natick, MA, beloved mother of Lauren Elizabeth Anderson of Santa Monica, CA and the late Charles Raymond Anderson of Dover, MA, died Sunday, March 2, 2025 in Boston, MA. Deborah was born in Bridgeport, CT, the daughter of the late Raymond and Elvira Shanley. Deborah received her undergraduate degree from Emmanuel College, Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School and Master's Degree in Taxation from Boston University. Deborah began her legal career at the law offices of Murphy, Hesse, Toomey and Lehane in Braintree, MA. For the past 20 years, Deborah served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Fair Labor Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General's office. Deborah raised her beloved son and daughter in Dover, MA, where she also served the non-profits Dover Foundation and Open Fields and the non-profit Turtle Lane Playhouse in Newton. She contributed substantially as a highly skilled seamstress to those organizations and their local theater productions, by creating and tailoring scores of actors' costumes that drew great praise from the Dover and Newton audiences. Additional survivors include her brother, Shaun Shanley and wife, Sharon, of Monroe, CT; sister, Kathleen Packer and husband, James of Trumbull, CT; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Kevin Shanley of Buckeye, AZ. There will be a Celebration of Deborah's wonderful Life on Friday, March 14, at 11AM, at the First Parish Church in Weston, 349 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA. Reception following. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MusicWithHeartBoston.org on their website. For online guestbook, gfdoherty.com George F. Doherty & Sons Needham 781 444 0687

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Published by Boston Globe from Mar. 6 to Mar. 9, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for DEBORAH ANDERSON

11 Entries

Becca Collins

April 17, 2025

We at Collins Construction were saddened to hear of the passing of Deb. We truly appreciated her willingness to step in and assist contractors and awarding authorities alike. You will be missed.

Susan Hines

March 24, 2025

I learned so much from Deb over the years and will miss her. I so appreciated her responsiveness and willingness to share knowledge. She as a true professional and mentor. Such a great loss.

Jenne dos Santos

March 21, 2025

I am so sad to hear this. RIP, Deb. You were such a wealth of knowledge, professionalism and integrity. I really enjoyed working with you over the past 15+ years. You will be missed. I will miss stories of how much you loved your new "pandemic pup"!! Rest easy.

Pamela Bloomfield

March 18, 2025

Deb's intelligence, principled commitment to her work, and generosity were universally admired and appreciated. I have lost a brilliant mentor who supported and improved the quality of my public construction training work over many decades. The Commonwealth has lost an extraordinary professional whose important contributions to the field will endure for many years to come.

Natasha Ashe

March 14, 2025

Deb was the best of the best in state government. May her memory be eternal.

Best,
Natasha Bizanos-Ashe

Jennifer Currier Lyons

March 12, 2025

So sorry to hear of Deb's passing. She was a wonderful person and colleague

Jeffrey Smith

March 11, 2025

Please accept the condolences of the Emmanuel College community upon Deborah's passing. We shall add her name to the intentions at our next Memorial Mass.
May her soul, and those of all our dear departed Alumnae, family and friends, rest in peace and rise in glory.

Curt Anderson

March 10, 2025

Debbie was a powerhouse at work as an Assistant Attorney General and at home with her children and in her substantial contributions to non-profits as a seamstress creating costumes for the actors in Open Fields and Dover Foundation and Turtle Lane Playhouse theatrical productions. Debbie was the mother of my children and she gave me gifts in these two children that I will cherish forever.

Sue Repetti

March 9, 2025

Dear Lauren,
I will always remember the courageous and positive woman your mother was and her many contributions to our Dover community.
Sincerely,
Sue Repetti

Gerry Lainer

March 8, 2025

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Rick Magliozzi

March 7, 2025

Deb Anderson was always willing to assist and while I didn't always agree with her decision, I respected it and her. She was a go to source with vast knowledge and was the foundation for the Attorney General's Bid Protest Unit. Rest in Peace.

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