HUDSON — E. Geraldine (Schaefer) Anderson, 83, a resident of Hudson for the past four years and a longtime resident of Jacob Gates Road, Harvard, died Thursday, July 2, 2009 at the Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer.
Mrs. Anderson was born in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York, October 18, 1925, a daughter of Frank J. and Margaret G. (Faella) Schaefer and resided in Harvard for nearly 40 years.
She receiver a BA from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY in 1947 and in 1974 received her Master’s Degree in Education from Fitchburg State College.
She was predeceased by her husband of 34 years, Earl N. “Andy” Anderson in November 1992.
She is survived by two sons; Peter M. Anderson of Acton, John S. Anderson of Bar Harbor, Maine; a sister and brother-in-law, Irene and George Schultz of Cincinnati, Ohio. She also leaves several nieces and nephews.
For the past 12 years, Mrs. Anderson worked at Bigelow Garden Center in Northborough. Prior to that she taught for 20 years in the Special Education Department at Westlands School and Harrington School both in Chelmsford. Many years ago she worked in merchandising and retail sales in Manhattan, New York.
An avid gardener, Mrs. Anderson was a longtime member of the Harvard Garden Club as well as Worcester Garden Club. As a member of the Worcester Garden Club she helped in organizing the annual plant sale at the Tower Hill Botanical Garden in Boylston.
Mrs. Anderson was a member of the North American Hosta Society, American Hemerocallis Society and the American Rock Garden Society.
She was a charter member and past president of the New England Hosta Society. She was a master judge of both hosta and day lilies and was accredited by the Massachusetts Horticulturist Society as a Certified Horticulturist.
She was also a member of the Harvard Women’s Club where she enjoyed playing bridge.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on July 8, 2009 in the Chapel at Saint Benedict’s Abbey, 252 Still River Road (Rte. 110), in the Still River section of Harvard. Burial was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Benedict’s Abbey, P.O. Box 67, 252 Still River Road (Rte. 110), Still River, MA 0146, or to the American Cancer Society, Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.
