Mary Anda Obituary

Mary Vial Anda, 87, lifelong resident of Downers Grove, passed peacefully on Thursday March 6th at the Fairview Baptist Home. Mary grew up in Downers Grove and graduated from Downers Grove North High School. After receiving her BS in Chemistry from Michigan State University, she worked as a research chemist for both GE and Dow Chemical before returning to Downers Grove to raise a family after marrying Donald John Anda. Mary was a woman who was always involved in supporting the people around her and organizations she believed in. She was involved with the Downers Grove public schools, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Fairview Village Residents representation and leadership roles, a volunteer to support groups from disadvantaged children to fellow senior citizens, the First Congregational Church of Downers Grove and doing anything to support her family. Mary loved to spend time visiting family and friends, could never play enough bridge each week, rooted for the local professional sports teams, kept up to date on the financial markets on CNBC, and loved to read the local news and a good book. In her senior years she became focused on longevity and quality of life by committing to regular cardiovascular and strength exercising several days a week. She was influenced and motivated early in life by her grandfather's words, intellectual challenges and sharing of thoughts sitting together by an oak tree in a quiet remote pasture on the farm where she grew up in Downers Grove. Up to the day she died, she continued her great sense of humor, words of wisdom to her children and grandchildren that she carried on from her parents and grandparents, her warmth, loving demeanor and empathy for treating people in a Christian manner, staying in touch with her friends and family and projecting her pleasant smile to everyone she was speaking tofriends and strangers. Her values were built on honesty, empathy, candor, confidentiality, and proper etiquette. Those values, her influence, motivation, support, generosity, humor, warmth and great smile will always be remembered along with the time spent together by her surviving family and friends including brother Chuck (Toni) Vial of Madison, WI, son Richard (Diane) Anda of Ridgefield, CT, son Dr. Robert (Kim) Anda of Peachtree City, GA, son-in-law Mike (Claudia) Feeney of Downers Grove, grandchildren Ann (Mark) Feeney Maronick, Mark (Amanda) Feeney, Michael Anda, Kristin Anda, Kelsey Anda, Will Anda, her friends and fellow members of the church, her many bridge club partners, her life-long New Year's Eve group of special friends and all of her other in-laws, surviving family roots and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Donald John Anda, brother William (Jane) Vial, brother Fredrick (Willa) Vial, and daughter Doris Anda Feeney. At Mary's request there will be a celebration memorial service at the First Congregational Church in Downers Grove, IL, on Saturday March 15th at 2pm followed by fellowship, memory sharing and refreshments in the parlor at the church. Bring any special pictures you have of Mary and your memories to share as a celebration of the great life and special friendship we will forever cherish of Mary Abigail (Vial) Anda. Mary and her family request that in lieu of flowers and the expense of distant travel that a donation is made to the "Mary Vial Anda Memorial Fund" at the First Congregational Church, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, IL 60515. Arrangements by DuPage Cremations LTD and Memorial Chapel. (630) 293-5200