Joanne "Mickey" Anderson

Joanne “Mickey” Anderson passed away peacefully on 31 October 2024 at the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, Florida at the age of 86.   Her stay at William Childs was brief, but the family is grateful for the care provided to our beloved Mickey. 

Mickey was born on January 24, 1938, to Joseph and Margaret Hill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Detroit, Michigan with her parents and siblings, Thomas and Patricia.   She will be remembered lovingly by her husband of sixty-three years Laurence “Andy” Anderson, children Michael Anderson, Kathleen Lima (Bryan), Daniel Anderson (Anne), Teresa Decormier (Tammy Reyes), Steven Anderson and Matthew Anderson; grandchildren James Anderson (Adriana), Kailey Harvey (Richard), Kyle Decormier (Lorena), Joshua Massanova, Cameron Decormier, Broc Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Noah Anderson, Gwendolyn Anderson, and Christina Bitzanakis; and great grandchildren Mia, Lunabelle, Adalyn, Novalyn and baby-boy Anderson arriving November 2024.   Mickey will be greatly missed, but we are comforted by the many wonderful memories of our lives together.

Mickey is also survived by her sister Patricia Johnson and many nieces and nephews; she was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Margaret, and brother Thomas Hill.    

Beyond her love for her family and friends, Mickey was passionate about many things, including her faith, which was evidenced by her involvement with her parish Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church where she spent many years managing the gift shop and supporting Andy in the activities of the Knights of Columbus.  She also enjoyed close friendships and many lunches with her ladies group met through HNJ, all of whom preceded her in death.   Mickey loved to show support for her children and grandchildren and spent many hours watching them participate in sports and other activities. She also enjoyed supporting the deployed military with care packages.  Additionally, she was very active in the Right to Life movement in the 1970s and was a counselor for many young women.   

Mickey worked as a secretary for Chrysler and moved to Taranto, Italy in support of a government contract; it was there that she met Andy in 1960, who was in the USAF and supporting the contract.   Mickey and Andy married in May 1961 and moved back to the states in 1962, relocating to Patrick, AFB, Florida the same year that Michael was born. The family stayed in Florida for five years until relocating to California. Seven location moves and five more children followed over the next ten years, until they settled back in Florida in 1977.  Mickey transitioned to the role of mother and homemaker with the birth of her first child, guiding each of us on our journey to adulthood.  She also spent many years as a beloved caregiver for Matthew.   

Services for Mickey will take place at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church (3050 N. Hwy A1A, Indialantic, FL 32903) on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.  Visitation is at 10:30 a.m. and the Funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 a.m.   There will be a reception immediately following the services.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).