Obituary of Patricia Anne Anderson

Patricia Anne Manning Anderson was born on April 4th, 1941 to parents Joseph and Anne Manning in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the eldest of 5 children and is survived by her three sisters Karen, Beverley and Joan and her brother Joseph. She graduated from Regina High School in 1959, also located in Cleveland and then attended Notre Dame College. She married the love of her life, John Alan Anderson, Sr. on August 12th, 1961 and later moved to Short Hills and Lebanon Township, NJ. Pat had six children, John Alan Jr. of Chester, NJ, James Arthur of Summit, NJ, Karen Marie of Long Valley, NJ, Mary Martha of Cleveland, OH who died shortly after her birth, Laura Kathryn of Wake Forest, NC and Amy Louise of Westchester, NY. She is lovingly remembered by her husband, five remaining children, their spouses (Beth, Amina, Mike and Alex) and their families. Patricia and Jack recently retired to Wake Forest, North Carolina in 2013. Patricia loved the warm weather, friendly people and southern hospitality. She spent her time participating in book clubs, attending exercise classes at the senior center and lunching with the ladies in her neighborhood. On Tuesday, November 21st, 2017, Mrs. Anderson passed away peacefully with her loving husband, Jack, at her side in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Pat” as she was called, was a true humanitarian. She loved people, plants, animals and cooking. Pat devoted over 10 years of her life to the Millburn/Short Hills First Aid Squad and even delivered a baby in the back of the ambulance. She was a mathematician whose theorems were published in math textbooks. Pat was a true wordsmith, not only during her career as a newspaper writer and editor but in everyday life. She worked as an editor for The Item, The Cranford Chronicle, Recorder Publishing and Elegant Lifestyles. It is a little-known fact that Pat even filled in as a seamstress for the great Smokey Robinson. Pat was a beautiful woman, and held the title of Miss Silver Dollar as a teenager. Pat was very proud of her Slovenian heritage and thoroughly enjoyed a good polka, Slovenian sausage and potica. She is survived not only by her sisters and brother, 5 children and 14 grandchildren (Sarah, Billy, Samantha, Grace, John Carlo, Suzi, Michael, Jack, Adam, Charlie, Lucia, Emily, James and Marco), but also by her husband “Jack” of 56 years. Jack was the light of her life, her co-pilot and her soulmate. Pat (Mom, Grandma, Sister, Aunt, Friend) will be most remembered for her endless generosity and strong spirit. The family will be receiving friends at St. Rose of Lima Church, Short Hills on Friday, Jan 5th from 4:00 - 7:00 PM. A Funeral mass will take place on Saturday, January 6th, 2018, at 10:00 AM at Saint Rose of Lima Church. There will be a private celebration of her life reception immediately following the Funeral Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to her favorite church, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 11401 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613 or The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 110 East 42nd Street, 16th Floor New York, NY 10017 https://www.alzinfo.org/donate/donation_form