Pearl E. Anderson
(December 3, 1916 - May 30, 2008)
 

Pearl Anderson, age 91, of 620 W. Onota Street, Munising, died surrounded by her loving family while they prayed sang hymns on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. at Marquette General Hospital. She was born on December 3, 1916 in Marquette, one of five children of Evangeline (Robarge) and Ovila “Eli” St. Amour. She was baptized at St. John’s Church in Marquette. About 1921, the family moved to the Munising area. Pearl attended Lincoln School through the sixth grade, and then attended and graduated from Sacred Heart School. She graduated from Mather High School in the Class of 1935. Pearl worked on Grand Island and waitressed in the Green Garden Tea Room. In August of 1935, she married Roswell “Rossie” C. Anderson and they made their home in Munising where Rossie worked for the CCC’s; and later they partnered in the retail gasoline and tourist trade, first when he operated Superior Storage, and after he returned from Naval service, at a Gasoline station and Motel at 109 E. Munising Avenue. Pearl’s responsibilities included some bookkeeping, cleaning of their motel, but mostly the care of their growing family. Their first child, Leonard, was stillborn; sons and daughters were born beginning in 1939: Barbara, James, Kristin “Kitty”, Paul, Eileen, and Tina. She and Rossie were beautiful witnesses to love and marriage. They met at a baseball game, fell in love, married, raised their family, and enjoyed their life together. They spent winters in Texas for eighteen years. August 29, 2008 would have been their 73rd Anniversary of marriage. FAMILY was a priority. Pearl enjoyed CAMP. Summers were spent with family at camp on Powell Lake. She enjoyed music and “all the kids took piano lessons” and sing-a-longs were always a feature of gatherings. It was beautiful how Pearl peacefully died when her family concluded “How Great Thou Art.” She faithfully worshipped on Sunday and was interested in religious dimension of life. Pearl loved to golf, play the organ, ceramics, cards, and she passed on the tradition of “Dummy Rummy” to her grandchildren. Pearl also enjoyed flower gardening and canning jams, strawberries, and jellies.

She is survived by her loving husband, Roswell of Munising; children – Barbara (Bob) Losin of Saddlebrook, AZ, James (Joan) Anderson of Munising, Kristin “Kitty” (Dan) Flynn of Munising, Paul (Peggy) Anderson of Marquette, Eileen (Halldor) Egilsson of Menominee, MI, and Tina (Terry) Pihlainen of Deerton; sixteen grandchildren – Paul, Chris, Suzanne, Cecilia, Katie, Shaun, Tim, Kerry, John, Lissa, Steinunn, Kirsten, Roswell, Laura, Ann, and Amy; fifteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pearl was preceded in death by her parents Evangeline and Eli St. Amour, son Leonard, sisters Blanche (Charles) Jobin, Lillian (Harold) Cotey, Marceline (Peter) Homik, brother Leonard (Agnes) St. Amour, and great-granddaughter Sarah Flynn.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. A Parish Vigil Service and time of sharing remembrances will be at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising and she will be escorted by her grandsons.

Submitted by Char Livermore