Obituary of Laura J Anderson

Laura “Joan” Anderson, known by family and friends as Joan a retired Registered Nurse and resident of Burlington for 75 years passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on Tuesday morning, January 28, 2020. She was 85 years old. Laura was born in Brighton. She was the daughter of Charlotte and Frank Ernest Wentworth. Her first 9 years were spent living in Somerville. Then, her family moved to their new home, on Francis Wyman Road in Burlington. At the time, he owned 100 acres in Burlington and Billerica. As a young girl, she described that she lived at the 7th house from either end of Francis Wyman Road. She went to school in the Union School (now the Police Station) and graduated high school from the Center School (now the COA and Recreation Dept.). She furthered her education by getting her Nurse’s Degree from the New England Baptist Hospital. Later, she would later go onto earn an Associate’s Degree at Middlesex Community College in Business. She spent over 40 years working at the Winchester Hospital. Laura started as an emergency room nurse and over 4 decades worked in almost every department in the hospital and ended her career as a Case Manager. She was always there for her family, friends, and neighbors whenever they had a health question or needed some guidance. Laura had several interests and hobbies over her lifetime. She enjoyed painting when she was young. She was a talented cake decorator and you were lucky to receive a birthday, retirement, or special occasion cake crafted by Laura. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and any sort of crafts. She and her husband loved working together in their vegetable and flower gardens. She had a love of lighthouses. She wasn’t quite a Pharologist, but she spent countless vacations visiting lighthouses all over the country. On one trip, she visited all 12 light houses in Michigan. The furthest light house trip was Hawaii. Her house was filled with lighthouse collectibles she had acquired during her travels. She also enjoyed road trips all over the United States and Canada. She visited historical sites, “must see” landmarks including the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and the Gateway Arch. Her home was truly the family homestead. It was the gathering place for 6 generations over the years. Her home was warm, welcoming, and filled with countless family treasures and memories. Laura was the beloved wife of 58 years of Robert E. Anderson. She was the loving mother of Lisa Lebrecht & her late husband David of Burlington, Frank Eric Anderson & his wife Debbie of Woburn, Richard Anderson & his wife Hilary of Beaver Cove, ME and the late Robert E. Anderson, Jr. & his late wife Elisabeth. She was the sister of Robert Wentworth of Derry, NH, the late Frank “Bud”, Charles “Chick”, and Barbara Wentworth. She was the grandmother of Christopher, Kyle, Caitlyn, & Kelley Lebrecht, Steve, Chris, & Ryan Jensen, Thomas Daniell, and Jake, Kathleen, and Sarah Anderson. Great grandmother of Anna & Oliver Anderson, Emma, Elizah, & Owen Lebrecht and Carter, Anna, & John Jensen. Graveside services will be held at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Bedford St., Burlington on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 12:30 p.m. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers memorials in Laura’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s Association MA Chapter, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 www.alz.org Arrangements under the direction of the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, BURLINGTON. For online guest book see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net