Marianne Cecilia Anderson

Semmes, Alabama — Marianne Cecilia (Hertel) Anderson, 79, passed peacefully in the early morning of June 15, 2022, at her residence in Semmes, Alabama. She was preceded by her parents Henry G. and Elizabeth K. Hertel, and sister Margaret E. Hertel of Elberta, Alabama.

She married John W.O. Anderson, Jr. on June 10, 1965. They lived in Indiana, Arizona, Alabama and Michigan before retiring to their home of over 40 years in Semmes.

Marianne was born in Foley, Alabama and lived in Elberta where she was baptized at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church and attended grade school. She graduated from and was the 1958 valedictorian of Elberta Jr. High School. Marianne was a member of the National Honor Society at Foley High School and graduated in 1961, receiving the Scholastic award for all A’s, as well as winning awards for her achievements – her embryology project won 3rd place in medical in the 1959 Mobile Regional Science Fair and her casein project won 2nd place in chemistry in the 1960 Mobile Regional Science Fair.

She studied at the Providence School of Nursing and Springhill College in Mobile, Alabama where she was an Honor Student and a member of the Student Council. She graduated at the top of the class and received her nursing degree in August 1964. She worked as a RN at Foley Hospital, Purdue University ER and Lafayette Home Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana.

After retiring, she became an avid gardener, creating beautiful flower and productive vegetable gardens alongside her husband, John. She enjoyed reading, making jewelry, sewing, cooking and baking. All who tasted them know her pies were legendary. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends near and far, including travel to 42 US states, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong, Grand Turk, Bahamas and Costa Rica. During these travels, she walked to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, across London’s Tower Bridge and on the Great Wall of China. She is survived by her husband and soulmate John W.O. Anderson, Jr., brother, Robert (Carolyn) Hertel, daughters Paulette (Mark) Doggett, Ashley (Albert) Imhoff and Amy (John) Whigham; grandchildren Cedric (Courtney) Doggett, Meaghan (Michael) Pierce, Laura Imhoff, James Imhoff, Sarah Whigham and Thomas Whigham; great grandchildren James Doggett, Daisy Pierce, Lucy Pierce and Adrian Pierce.

A graveside memorial service will be held on October 1, 2022 at 2:00 pm where she will be laid to rest at Pine Crest Cemetery West, 1599 Snow Road South, Mobile, Alabama. The burial service is open to family and friends, that we may remember fondly her giving heart and a world that was a little brighter with her smile that radiated all the way to her twinkling eyes. Please plant a flower or tree in her memory or, in lieu of flowers, a donation to Feeding the Gulf Coast or St Jude’s Children's Hospital.