Remembering Mary Craig “Mary Beth” Anderson

A very caring and loving person passed away on April 20, 2021, and her family will miss her beyond description.

Mary Craig Anderson (Mary Beth) was born in Coatesville, PA., on February 26, 1948, and grew up in Carlisle, PA. She graduated from Carlisle High School, earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Lycoming College, and then earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Shippensburg University.

Mary taught school in a number of areas over the years, but her favorite role in her over 30-year career was as a third-grade teacher at Emerick Elementary School in Purcellville.

Mary is survived by her husband of 52 years, Robert Anderson, daughter Jennifer Ducharme and her husband, Brian, all of Purcellville; son Bobby Anderson and his wife, Mallory, of Charles Town, WV, and grandchildren Graham, Kaylee, Hannah, Luke, Harrison and Everly. She is also survived by her brother, Charles (Trudy) Craig, sister Nancy (Philip) Brown, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, their spouses and families.

Mary Beth had a deep sense of compassion and a total commitment to her family, friends, and students. She received literally hundreds of messages of appreciation and thank you notes over the years, which spoke about her commitment and bond to her students and their families.

She always spent many hours at school, before and after the school day, arriving at home long after student dismissal. She also regularly attended student athletic events and any other events her students were participating in on the weekends. She kept and treasured all of those messages, and those students were always in her heart.

After her retirement, she spent much of her time enjoying conversations with her sister-in-law, Debbie Massimiano, and her close friend, Mary Ann Fank, and many other friends, discussing books, world affairs, politics, and any nonsense that might be the topic of the day. Over the years, Mary could be counted on to be a loving strength and presence for her loved ones, and in turn, her family and friends have an undying love and commitment for her.

The Hollies recorded a song in 1974 called The Air That I Breathe, and a segment of that song includes the following words: “Sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe and to love you.”  She was that kind of person.

While Mary was in the hospital, shortly before she passed, granddaughter Kaylee sang to her the song “Clouds” by Zach Sobiech:

We’ll go up, up, up; But you’ll fly a little higher;
Go up into the clouds because the view is a little nicer; Up here my dear;

It won’t be long now, it won’t be long now; If only; I had a little more time; If only;
I had a little more time with you; We could go up, up, up; And take that little ride;
We’ll sit there holding hands; And everything will be just right;
And maybe someday I’ll see you again; We’ll float up in the clouds and we’ll never see the end.”

Due to Covid health concerns, a memorial service will be held sometime this summer.   

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