Obituary of Richard Anderson
It is with profound sadness that the family of Carol Maria Filosa Anderson and Richard (Dick) Gregory Anderson, announce their passing in Monroe Township, New Jersey, from complications of Covid-19. Carol (88) passed on Easter, April 12, 2020 and her beloved husband, Richard (89) passed 6 days later. They were married 67 years, together for over 70 years holding hands until their end.
Carol was born in Brooklyn and Dick in the Bronx. Their love story began when they met through their shared love of music at a dance. They were married not long after on December 27th, 1952, at Sacred Heart Church in Brooklyn. They moved to Massapequa then Upper Brookville, then finally settling in Stony Brook, New York to raise their family living next door to Carol’s parents, and her brother and sister’s families creating a loving, family compound. They enjoyed summers boating and fishing on the Long Island Sound with family and friends. Carol and Dick spent many happy years in their retirement enjoying the North Carolina coast living next door to her sister Joan and brother-in-law John. Joan remembers her sister as being a “classy lady”, always “dressed to the nines”.
Carol worked as an assistant manager at Macy’s department store in Stony Brook, for 20 years. Her lifelong passions were the opera, symphony and ballet, of which she enthusiastically enjoyed attending many performances both at the Met and Lincoln Center in New York City with family and friends. Carol also had a love for the French language of which her brother Angelo would playfully tease her about until she burst into uncontrollable laughter. Her grandchildren affectionately remember her as a wonderful storyteller and an amazing cook with her meatballs loved by all. Mostly, we will remember her kind, sweet, gentle soul (that she so generously gave to everyone she met), her infectious laugh and her sheer joie de vivre.
Dick worked for Unisys in Great Neck, New York for over 20 years and was also a landscape architect. During the 1950’s, he served in the National Guard receiving an honorable discharge after five years of service. He too shared a passion for music playing the saxophone in the big band era and later starting his own band performing in clubs throughout New York. He also loved his cars! He meticulously cared for them and always took pride in keeping them in mint condition. He also left a legacy of beautiful landscapes reminding us of his talent whenever we glance outside. He was an avid reader and a crossword puzzle fanatic and was always ready with a witty quip. Uncle Dick will also be remembered for all those fun late night walks after the Christmas Eve feast with his nieces and nephews.
Most of all, they both had a passion for family, cherishing and embracing every moment, especially those times spent with their six grandsons.
Carol and Dick Anderson are survived by their daughter, Denise, son-in-law, Scott and their grandsons Michael, Jacob, Nicholas, and Michael’s fiancée Brianna; by their son, Gregory, and daughter-in-law, Karen and their grandsons, Christopher, Patrick and Jay; by Carol’s brother, Angelo Filosa and her sister-in-law Joan, and her sister Joan Siedlewicz; by Richard’s sister in-law Barbara Anderson; and by their nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews as well.
Carol and Dick resided at an assisted living facility for the past four years. The compassionate staff at Grace Hospice that so selflessly provided loving care to our parents will forever be in our hearts.
A private virtual funeral mass and interment will be held at ST. GABRIEL'S CEMETERY AND CHAPEL MAUSOLEUMS on August 1, 2020. A memorial service will be held at a later date when it is safe to gather again.
To help those affected with Covid-19, memorial contributions can be made to the CDC Foundation, cdc.org, (404) 653-0790 or the Fishers Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation https://www.alzinfo.org
