Winifred "Winnie" Anderson

Winifred (Winnie) Shannon Anderson passed away on February 18, 2025 at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, NY following a brief illness. Winnie was born on 1932 to Albert and Lois Shannon. She lived in Kennedy NY and attended Randolph Central High School. Winnie married Theodore (Ted) Anderson in 1954 and promptly followed Ted to the Panama Canal Zone where he was stationed with the US Navy. They were married for 65 years.
Their first two children (Mark and Laura) were born in Panama. Later, while Ted was completing his teaching degree at Albany University their third child, Scott, was born. During summers when Ted attended Temple University Winnie lived in a tent with their children, hiking daily to fill water containers. She was a great adapter. Winnie often joked saying that she gave up her high heels to follow Ted. They enjoyed camping, hiking, and canoeing together and with their children and friends. They climbed Mt. Katahdin in Maine and in 1985 they canoed in Alaska.
Winnie was an avid reader and worked as a librarian in Bergen. Winnie's interest in learning and her love of books showed in her home, where one could find reading material on nearly anything! One of her great pleasures was shopping for and giving books (many books) to her grandchildren. No babysitting opportunity with a grandchild went without Winnie reading to the grandchild. Later, she joined Literacy Volunteers where she taught numerous individuals of all ages to read.
She also worked at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and Genesee Patrons. She ran a ceramic studio in her home and graciously gifted her time and creations to family members and friends. She and Ted tended a large garden and Winne yearly harvested vegetables, canned and froze them to share with family members. She was very intentional about making sure her children and grandchildren ate healthy, natural foods. She was adept at sneaking a multitude of healthy grains into her homemade pizza crust, muffins, breads, and pancakes. When the day came that Winnie no longer wished to can and freeze she announced her decision by stating, "I am done with being bossed around by vegetables!"
Winnie was also a wonderful seamstress. She gave sewing machines to family members and taught them how to sew. She taught her grandchildren how to sew. Winnie made clothes, stuffed animals and more for her children and her grandchildren. Later, she chose to make clothes for infants and children in need.
Winnie's love of learning included the history channel, PBS, and old movies. She enjoyed game shows on television; it is believed by some family members that if she had been a participant, she would have won! Even in her later years while in a nursing home, she watched games shows with her sons on Friday evenings and still knew the answers!
Winnie is survived by her sons, Mark (Cynthia) Anderson, Scott (Patricia) Anderson, and her daughter Laura (Glenn) Emerson. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and eleven Great grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Linda Anderson and brother-in-law, David Remington, and numerous nieces.
Winnie is preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Anderson, her parents, Albert and Lois Shannon, and her step-mother, Genevive Shannon. She is also preceded in death by her brother, Robert Shannon, her sister Alberta Remington, her brother-in-law, Hollis Anderson, sisters-in-law Joyce Shannon Hatten and Jo-an Forsberg, and grandson Erik Emerson.
Winnie chose to donate her body to the University of Buffalo Anatomical Gift Program; a choice that supports her love of life, the value she placed on learning and her insatiable quest for knowledge, as well as her generous and giving spirit.
A memorial service will occur at a later date and at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to your local library.