Helen Harding Anderson Has Died

Helen Harding Anderson, a long-time resident of Garrison, died Thursday, May 19^th, at the Field Home in Cortlandt Manor, NY. She was 97 years old and died peacefully in her sleep. Helen’s husband of 64 years predeceased her in 2005. Born in 1913 in Haverill, MA, Helen attended Boston University. In 1941 she married Kenneth V. Anderson and moved to Vermont. The Andersons and their young family moved to New York and settled in Garrison in 1948.
A devoted mother and active community member, Helen worked as an early child education teacher at Scarborough Country Day School, the Philipstown Community Nursery School, and collaborated with Anne Prentice in setting up the St. Philip’s Nursery School in Garrison. She also worked at Boscobel in Garrison, first as a docent, and retiring as Registrar.  Helen proudly volunteered for the Garrison Volunteer Ambulance Corps and as a Literacy Volunteer. An avid gardener, she was a long-time member of the Philipstown Garden Club. A woman who had a life-long love of working with her hands, Helen painted with water colors, designed and made both hooked rugs and quilts, taught workshops in the art of making bandboxes at Boscobel, and made decoupage watering cans and canes that she gave to friends and also sold at the Women’s Exchange in Westchester. She was always happy to share her talents and teach others what she knew. A positive, supportive, inspiring, loving, and caring person, Helen will be missed by her family and her many friends.
One of three children, her brother, Frederick Harding, predeceased her, and she is survived by her sister, Faith H. Jenkins of Stoneham, MA. She is also survived by her children Erik Anderson of Bradenton, FL, Lars Anderson of New York, NY, Dean Anderson of Garrison, NY, and Kristin Anderson Schroder of Chichester, NY; grandchildren Hans Schroder, Micah and August Hales, James, Kimberly, and David Gray; four great grandchildren; as well as nieces Wendy Neal, Carol Jenkins, and Susan Jenkins-Urban, all of whom brought great joy to her life.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 18, at St. Philip’s Church in the Highlands at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Helen Anderson to either the Garrison Volunteer Ambulance Corps (P.O. Box 121, Garrison, NY 10524) or the Literacy Volunteers of Putnam County (668 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541).