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Marilynn Joy Anderson

Marilynn Joy Anderson of Branford died at age 87 on May 5, 2024, at her home in Stony Creek. Her husband, two daughters, and son were at her bedside. Marilynn was born to Beatrice and Orris Robinson in Bartlett, North Dakota, on July 30, 1936.

She grew up on a small family farm in Lakota, North Dakota, where she helped with all chores, including milking cows, harvesting grain, canning fruits and vegetables, sewing clothes, and taking care of her younger brothers and sister. Marilynn graduated from Lakota High School and from North Dakota State University, where she acquired a teacher’s degree in home economics. She continued her education at the University of Illinois, where she received her master’s degree in child development. In 1958, Marilynn began her career teaching home economics in Twin Valley, Minnesota, and later in Mansfield, Illinois. She taught home economics and child development at Branford High School until retiring in 1999. She was a dedicated educator. One of her joys at Branford High School was working with her students in hosting an annual Christmas holiday party for young children associated with faculty and others. She also established a childcare center at Branford High School where mothers could bring their young children for a few hours. This would relieve the parent while allowing students to practice childcare and learn about child development. Upon retiring from teaching, she became a licensed real estate agent, working at William Raveis.

Marilynn was a quiet, kind, caring, and conscientious wife and mother, whose life was enriched by her many social, religious, and civic activities. She was an active member of the Stony Creek Congregational Church, where she taught Sunday school and participated in many church events. She was a member of the Board of the Stony Creek Cemetery Association, the Branford Seaside Swingers Square Dance Club, the Branford Historical Society, the Branford Land Trust, the Branford Retired Teachers Association, and was, for many years, a regular American Red Cross blood donor. In her golden years, Marilynn enjoyed spending her summers in Stony Creek and her winters in Naples, Florida. She and her husband John traveled extensively.

Marilynn was married for 66 years and is survived by her loving and devoted husband, John; daughters, Linda Fernandes of Naples, Florida, and Kristin Anderson of Arlington, Massachusetts; son, John Jr. of New Haven; grandson, Jay C. Fernandes III “Trip” and his wife, U. S. Coast Guard LCDR Colleen Fernandes and daughter, Emily; sister, Annette Anderson of New York; sisters-in-law, Lois Rockcastle of Alaska, and Judith Prince of New York City; brothers-in-law, James Anderson (wife Deanna) of Maryland and Jerome Anderson (wife Tracey) of Arizona; special cousin, Erva Moilanen of North Dakota; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; sister, Orlys; brothers, Orlin and Ross; and son-in-law, Jay C. Fernandes Jr.

Marilynn suffered from dementia. The family thanks Dr. Jodi Indes of the Northeast Medical Group, Guilford, for her many years of superb medical assistance as Marilynn’s primary physician. Dr. Geraldine Fabregas of the Adler Geriatric Assessment Center, New Haven, provided needed advice on dementia. Daughter Linda Fernandes provided daily in-home care for many years. During her final days, she was under the excellent care of Yale New Haven Health at Home-Hospice.

A memorial service to celebrate Marilynn’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, in the Stony Creek Congregational Church, 192 Thimble Island Road. Stony Creek. Contributions may be made to Stony Creek Congregational Church, 192 Thimble Island Road, PO Box 3385, Stony Creek, CT 06405.