Catharine (Kit) Anderson enjoyed life wherever she found herself. Born September 30, 1921 in Madison, Wisconsin, she spent her earliest years in Delaware. However, she became a Californian at heart during her childhood and teen years in McCloud, California, at the foot of Mt. Shasta. She earned a BA in anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. After her marriage to Henry (Hank) Anderson in 1941, she settled down to a life of active community involvement and raising two daughters, Cathy and Judith. Though Kit and Hank lived most of their 57 years of marriage east of the Rockies in Illinois, Texas, and Connecticut, their dream was always to return to California. Finally realizing that dream after Hank’s death in 1998, Kit moved to Laguna Woods Village where she shared her life with Eric Clayfield, a longtime friend and loving companion. Alone again after Eric’s death, Kit moved to assisted living at the Regency, also in Laguna Woods. She suffered a stroke and passed away peacefully on  July 18, 2010.

Kit’s many interests kept her constantly busy. She loved to travel, especially to Mexico, Central America, and the South Pacific. When she was home, she kept her mind attuned to the rest of the world by hosting foreign students. Kit was an industrious researcher into family history, and following her family’s traditions, she honed her skills as a painter and connoisseur of decorative arts and antiques. Always an enthusiastic singer, her greatest passion was Polynesian music and dance, and she happily immersed herself in Hawaiian songs, hula, and ukulele playing.

Kit is fondly remembered by two daughters, three grandsons, and two great-grandsons.

A celebration of her life will be held from 2 to 4 pm on Sunday, August 22, 2010, at the Regency, 24441 Calle Sonora, Laguna Woods, CA (949-830-8057). Donations to the Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org) are suggested in lieu of flowers.