On the morning of Thursday, September 28th, Teresa passed away after a year long, hard battle with cancer. She was peaceful and comfortable and in the presence of her husband and daughter. The previous night she was surrounded by all 5 of her children as we shared our love with our dear precious mother. It has been an incredibly hard week as we have said our goodbyes but the time together has been something near to heaven.
We know that Teresa is now in a wonderful place, free from pain & suffering. We can only imagine the homecoming she has received, joining her parents, brother, and in-laws. We are comforted to know that she is happy and free to run and twirl, and get to work. I wonder what projects she already has planned.
Our family is incredibly moved and touched by the outpouring of love, concern, and prayers that have come from all of you. From friends and strangers. Thank you. It has meant so much to us.
Simply put, Teresa is light. The way she serves, love, supports, and celebrates leaves everyone she comes in contact with feeling special and uplifted. We will miss her radiance on earth but know that she will be with us, shining and illuminating our days. We look forward with eager anticipation until the day when we can have her warm embrace again. She will be dearly, dearly missed.
Love, Dan and her children (Shannon, Sam, Kent, Denver, and Mason)
Teresa Andersen, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, returned to her heavenly home on September 28, 2017, surrounded by her loved ones in her home in Patterson, CA, after a year-long battle with cancer.
She is survived by her husband Dan Sevey Andersen, her children Shannon (Scott) Brown, Dan S. (Heidi) Andersen, Kent (Becca) Andersen, Denver (Bree) Andersen, Mason (Jessica) Andersen, her thirteen grandchildren, and her siblings L.B. Anderson, Kristeen Gough, Maurice Anderson, Martel Anderson, Pam Crockett, and John Anderson. She returns to her father, Lewis Blain Anderson and her mother Neva Jean Edeburn, and her brother Don Anderson.
To Teresa, family was everything. She treasured her loving marriage of 39 years, and made certain she and Dan went on on frequent dates and little adventures together. Motherhood was her greatest joy, and she valued her role as stay at home mother and grandmother. She loved to tell stories about the antics, sweetness, and sometimes mishaps of raising her five children. She was known by those littlest ones who loved her the most as “Grammer,” and it was role that she filled to perfection. From snuggling newborn babies and singing her favorite lullaby, to reading books with toddlers, taking grandkids on outings to the beach or museums or even just walking to the park, she filled their lives with play and exploration. Every moment she spent with them was filled to the fullest, she used every second she had to teach and to love and to teach them to love.
She was also our greatest example of living a life of love. Teresa made a point to only add light and happiness to the world. In every conversation, action, and blog post, her goal was to create beauty. She filled her life and others’ lives with a sense of joy, connection, and a feeling of home. She hosted elaborate events, cozy dinner parties, and “just because” picnics and outings for those she loved, all because she wanted to give her friends a chance to feel loved and special. She believed in the good all around her, and simply wanted all of us to see it too. Her motto was, “You can always find some happy in a day.”
Teresa never saw herself. She only saw with a Christlike desire to lift and serve those around her. The love of the Savior shone through her. One of her favorite things in life was sharing her blessings and her testimony in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She believed that little things matter, and she added something special to everything she did. She felt like sunshine. And because of her, the world was lifted and brightened and made more beautiful.
Funeral services will be held Monday, October 2nd in Crows Landing, California. Contact her daughter Shannon ([email protected]) if you would like more info.
