MARY ANDERSON

ANDERSON, Mary A longtime Concord resident, died peacefully on October 18, at 100. Since her birth in Ottawa, she was on a mission to bring joy to all around her. She succeeded and lit up any room she entered. Mary and her older brother, Peter moved with their parents, Rose and Harrie Richardson to Flushing NY, and then to Lincoln when Mary was eight. At Concord High School, she met her future husband, William Wheeler Anderson. The two raised a family of four children on Hubbard Street in a home that became a gathering spot for a fleet of her children's friends. Mary brought enthusiasm to all that she did and drew in everyone she could find. She took in those who needed a home for an extended period or for just an evening when she found an interesting traveler. There was always room at Mary's table: an entertaining and delicious place. She dedicated herself to many organizations: Thoreau Lyceum, Concord Teen Center, First Parish Church and Choir, Hubbard Street Athletic Club, Concord Country Club, Hodge Podge Lodge and more. She especially loved cooking, bridge, baseball, golf, Italy, England and music. At nearly 70, and recently widowed, Mary graduated from Brandeis University, magna cum laude, as class marshall. While taking courses over many years, she was the executive secretary to the vice president of the college and became the liaison between the president and board of trustees. In addition, she was a director of Brandeis' Creative Arts Award Program. This alliance of intelligence and sociability brought out her best. After graduation, Mary studied Italian in Tuscany and rented a villa. Naturally, she entertained neighbors, family and friends. After Bill died, Mary married Romey Everdell, a long time friend. They traveled the world and entertained a whole new set of friends at Lewis Wharf. She embraced her stepfamily in her typical outgoing manner. As with her first husband, Bill, Mary chose to care for Romey through a protracted illness at home. Even as she aged and slowed, her remarkable personality, humor and irresistible smile buoyed anyone in her vicinity. Mary was predeceased by her first husband, Bill Anderson; her second husband, Romey Everdell; and her son, Bill Anderson, Jr. She is survived by three children, Ken and Lynda Anderson, Kristin and Richard Emerson, Elizabeth and Richard Monaghan; eight grandchildren, Augusta Sparks, Cato Anderson, Catharine Dyer, Elizabeth Van de Kerckhove, Ashley Co-hane, Erin Clancy, Michele Fergus and David Clancy, plus spouses; and 15 great-grandchildren. Mary just missed being a great-great-grandmother. She loved and is also survived by Emerson, Everdell and Monaghan; stepchildren and grandchildren; and Katharine Bell, her daughter-in-law. A Celebration of Life will be held in First Parish, 20 Lexington Road, Concord Center on December 11, at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the William W. Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund, 34 Walden St., Unit 217, Concord, MA 01742-2542. For Mary's tribute page, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com Dee Funeral Home of Concord 978-369-2030 Caring for families since 1868