Mary Anderson

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.