Amelia Anderson

Amelia “Mellie” Anderson, 92, loving mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family and friends on March 24, 2025. She was born in Clarkdale, AZ to Gabriel Soto and Isabel Hernandez Soto.

As a young girl, Mellie moved with her family to the Peoria/Glendale, AZ area. She graduated from Glendale High School and worked at the family restaurant, La Perla Cafe in Glendale until she retired. La Perla was her life's passion. It was there she was able to touch the lives of so many others with her warmth, kindness, spunk, and witty sense of humor. This is where she met the love of her life, Ronnie Anderson, who was stationed at Luke Air Force Base. They married and had three children, Ronda, Randy, and Ramona. She worked hard as a single mom to support her family after the unexpected passing of her husband in 1965. La Perla and her family became her life. She was blessed with a large, tight-knit family that was full of life, including her siblings, cousins, many nieces and nephews, and her La Perla family. Mellie was a Cub Scout Den Mother and Girl Scout leader. She acted as a second mom to many kids in the neighborhood, which is how she became affectionately known to everyone as “Auntie Mellie”.

She loved to spend time with her friends and family and tell everyone stories of her time growing up. She would always make sure everyone felt welcome in her home and it was often the meeting place where everyone would go to spend time with each other. She enjoyed bowling, gardening, crafting, painting, and occasionally going to the casinos, carrying around her bucket of nickels. Later in life she was blessed to find love and companionship again with Andy “Big A” Watzek, who she loved deeply for over 25 years. Both devout Catholics, they brought a special happiness to each other and were devoted to one another for the remainder of their lives.

Mellie was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her siblings Eva Pompa Cuenca, Elodia Vasquez, Manuel Soto, Henry Soto and Francis Florez.

With Auntie Mellie there were no “step” family members. Family was family. She is survived by her children Ronda Watzek (Andy), Randy Anderson (Esther), Ramona Anderson, David Watzek (Anita), Donna Johnson, and Danny Watzek (Teri); grandchildren Stephanie McPhaul, Jennifer Colwell, Michael Chavarria, Marc Andrade, Jenafer Mejia, Michael Johnson, Bryan Johnson, Sarah Gonzalez, Chris Watzek, Kyle Watzek, Daryl Leinhart, Danielle Watzek, and Andrew Watzek; and her 27 great grandchildren. Auntie Mellie was also blessed to have a close relationship with her numerous nieces and nephews and their children as well.

There will be a Visitation held on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, followed by a Rosary from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary, 7924 N 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301. The Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, April 10th, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. Helen Roman Catholic Church, 5510 West Cholla Street, Glendale, AZ 85304. She will be laid to rest at West Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6920 West Northern Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301.