"Mom, your communication and presences remains a steady in my life...it's so unbelievable that you will be gone two years next month. So many things and events are you. Thanks for playing all the games during the holidays and visits to the farm for lefsa making...In my mind I am calling you or telling you something every day! "
In loving memory of
Mary Ann Anderson
November 23, 1938 - April 5, 2013
Stoughton, WI - Mary Ann (Olson) Anderson, age 74, peacefully passed away at her home surrounded by her loved ones on Friday April 5th 2013.
Mary was born to Joseph and Laura (Myklejord) Olson in Stoughton on the 23rd of November 1938. She lived in Stoughton her entire life and took pride in her Norwegian heritage. Mary attended Stoughton High School from 1954-57.
On August 10th of 1968, Mary lovingly took Wayne D. Anderson's hand in marriage. They enjoyed forty five years of marriage and loved their family life. They raised their daughters Terri and Tamara and were very proud of all their accomplishments. Mary was always there when her girls came home from school and spent time talking to them about their day. She put her family first and loved being a homemaker in every sense of the word. She was an incredible teacher in the school of life. Mary loved baking and cooking for her family and took great happiness in making their birthdays a very special day. She loved the holidays and always made them festive. She loved to have fun and known for her wonderful laugh. For the past twenty nine years she was honored to be called Grandma Mimi by her three Grandchildren and was the heart of her family. In 2004 they were blessed with the birth of their Great Grandson Aden Venden. With Aden, came another opportunity to enjoy what a child brings to life. Mary loved her children and Grandchildren unconditionally and was always the voice of reason when they were struggling with decisions. She always listened and gave advice that inspired them to do the right thing.
Mary loved camping and canoeing in the Wisconsin State Parks and being in the outdoors. Mary and Wayne loved to take their Grandchildren camping and taught them to enjoy being in Nature. They loved going to Door County and enjoyed going to a fish boil. She liked to travel and enjoyed trips to several regions in the United States. In 2001 Mary traveled with her daughter Tamara and her family to the Dominican Republic. It was a trip that she enjoyed and she spoke of often sharing her wonderful experiences there. She truly enjoyed her trip to the Carribean Island and loved getting to know the natives there.
In addition to her family, she enjoyed her friends. She liked going out for a meal and shopping with her best friend Barbara Friske. They had a wonderful friendship that she cherished.
Mary enjoyed her time working for Schoonover's Hardware Store and Tom's Main Street Market in Stoughton. She took great pride in her work and being a part of local businesses.
Mary is survived by her loving and devoted husband Wayne, her daughters Terri Venden and Tamara (Norward) Steffen, her Grandchildren Cailea (Chris Fox) Showers, Kyle Venden, Garen Showers, Great Grandson Aden Venden, her sister Joan (Norman) Zee, her brother Dale Sandmire, brother in law Wyman Anderson and sister in laws Marlene Olson, Nancy Olson, Diane Benson as well as many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her daughter Tina, her brothers Robert, Richard and David, her father Joseph and her beloved mother Laura Grace Olson. Mary loved her brothers, sister, nieces and nephews and was so proud to be part of the family that she grew up with. It gives her family great comfort that Mary is now with the people in her family that passed before her. She is surely enjoying her reunion with them.
Mary's surviving family would like to say a heartfelt Thank You to the medical community, for being an incredible comfort and wonderful support system. We would like to thank Agrace Hospice for making her transition what Mary wished it be.
A memorial gathering with refreshments celebrating Mary's life will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the Stoughton Wellness & Athletic Center (Anytime Fitness), 2300 U.S. 51, Stoughton. Her family would love for all those interested to come and share stories of their love for Mary. It was Mary's wish for her friends and family to come together for one last meal at her table.
Tributes
"My Mom came to me in a dream last week. I had called the house and talked to Wayne. He then handed me off to speak with her. I told her that I knew she was gone and she said, " "But You Always talk to me if you call this number" It is still hitting me in waves that she is not here anymore. No one will ever love you like your Mom. She was the one who carried you and nutured you, No one will ever love you like that. I miss her so much and I miss that kind of love. No one on this planet shared the day I was born. "
"In the past couple weeks since I lost my Mother I have had time to reflect upon my loss. I do not think that is has really hit me that my Mom is not here anymore. I do feel that she did go inside of me and resides with me day to day. When I went back to work on Monday April 15th, 2013, i felt like I was at show and tell at elementary school. I felt like she was with me and I was showing her all the work that I do. I wanted her to see that I am a person with high standards that dots her I's and crosses her t's. Now today I have my Angel Keepsake and she is sitting with me watching what I like to watch. It is so hard to tell your experience. Everyone's experience is different. My experience is that my belief system that I have built on over the past twenty years it tried and true. I always wondered what would happen if I were challenged. I am still a person with a strong belief system and I will keep it close to my heart. "