LAKEPORT, Calif. – Marie Louise Anderson, 88, of Lakeport and formerly of Fort Bragg, Calif., passed away on Sept. 25, 2016, at St. Helena Hospital.

Born on Jan. 24, 1928, she was predeceased by her parents, Jim and Mary Masolini. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a sister, and a friend to many. She will be deeply missed.

Marie attended school in Fort Bragg, where she excelled, and graduated salutatorian. Her father expected she’d marry an Italian, but a good-looking Dane showed up on her 18th birthday and heard Marie playing her accordion. He came back the next day with a locket as a birthday gift; she was in love and they soon married.

Marie was the secretary at the Fort Bragg Lutheran Church and worked for 14 years as secretary to the counselor at Fort Bragg Junior High. She loved cooking and was famous for great meals, especially her risotto and polenta.

She loved holidays and was never happier than when her home was full of friends and family. She loved traveling, especially when she and Don hooked up the Airstream and took off across country. She traveled the world with Don and on one eventful trip, he fulfilled a promise, taking her to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

She loved playing her organ and accordion, reading, musicals, shopping and Sunday Packer games. Marie often said that she couldn’t believe that a girl from Fort Bragg could be so lucky.

Survivors include the love of her life, her husband for almost 70 years, Don Anderson; her brother, Leno (Carolyn) Masolini; her children, Joe Anderson (Karen), Mike Anderson (Maribelle) and Donna Rose; her grandchildren, Melanie and Brian (Nikki) Rose, Misty (Donald) Daniels, Myles (Stacey) Anderson, Donnie (Ashley), Jesse, Caden and Drew Anderson. Marie was a loving Nona to 11 great-grandchildren, and she leaves behind numerous friends and relatives.

Friends are invited to celebrate the life of Marie with her family on Oct. 16 at the Lodge at Blue Lakes from 1 to 5 p.m.

The family requests donations in her memory to her favorite charities: American Cancer Society, Attn: Team MargaRelayVille, 1451 Guerneville Road # 220, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403 or the Timberwolf Stadium Fund, P.O. Box 2812, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .