Christina M. Anderson

Christina Anderson died peacefully at home on Friday, April 27, 2018 at the age of 90 years old. Born and raised in upstate New York, she had a hard life in her early years, faced many challenges, but lived to recount many fond memories of those times. Chris was quite the storyteller.

She was a studious child whose love of books and reading stayed with her throughout her lifetime. Learning to play the piano and harp, she later shared her love of music with her children. Her mother moved their family to California during WWII and settled in Orange, where Christina attended Orange High School and for the first time was not the tallest person in her class. She attended Mt. Saint Mary’s and took jobs at Shell and McDonnell Douglas before meeting and marrying William “Andy” Anderson.

She raised four children of her own and was also close to her nieces and nephews. She loved children and did not mind the extra noise and chaos that came with having a home that was the focal point for kids in the neighborhood.

While raising four children, taking care of other children in the neighborhood, being a scouting den mother, Christina also found time to engage in many civic activities.

In the 1960’s, she took part in efforts to support California farm workers, boycotting markets that would not buy union grapes and was even banned from entering local stores due to her activities. She served on several news panels to discuss the plight of farm workers. The family were frequent visitors to Delano with supplies from Los Angeles to aid the farm workers in their struggle for justice and decent living conditions.

Christina was active in The League of Women Voters and through her persistence in representing the local area in city planning activities was instrumental in getting her neighborhood named “Del Rey.” She helped create the Del Rey Homeowners Association and several of the first meetings were held in the family’s living room.

Joining Santa Monica Sister Cities in the late 1970s, Christina and Andy hosted several students from Hamm, Germany and established a long correspondence with many of them, following them as they set up their own families. The family hosted students from France and Mexico as well.

Socially aware and always willing to aid where needed, she joined her grandson and daughter in volunteering at Project Chicken Soup. She and her husband Andy helped deliver hot meals for Project Chicken Soup and made many friendships through that organization.

She retired from Loyola Marymount University in the mid-1990’s where she worked as an interlibrary loan library assistant.

She traveled to many different countries and states accompanied first by her husband “Andy” and later by her daughter and grandson. She invariably brought back mementos from each trip to share with others.

She led a rich and wonderful life, peppered with sadness and sweetened with joy, and leaves behind many who were touched by her friendship and love. Preceded in death by her son, Luke and her husband Andy, she will be sadly missed but gratefully released from her earthly shell which her soul no longer needs as it makes its journey beyond.

A memorial service will be held on June 9, 2018 from 1-4 p.m. at 4220 South Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.