Dale Anderson-Words can’t begin to express the profound sorrow I’ve felt since learning over the weekend that my grand-niece Edda Anderson is no longer with us. The eldest grandchild in the Arizona branch of the family, I always thought of her as the brightest and best of all of us. At 25, freshly graduated with an advanced degree as a physician’s assistant, she was beautiful and beloved, the personification of potential.We gathered to see her get her diploma three months ago in Chicago, which she was adopting as her home, and she’d arranged a wonderful weekend of activity that united and delighted the entire extended family, with nary a hint of darkness or distress. When a parent or a grandparent passes on, there’s a familiar gamut of grief, a healing of the blow with a grudging acceptance of the inevitable. But this is different. It’s total heartbreak.
Her passing is a poignant reminder of life’s fragility, yet her memory calls us to embrace the true gifts of family, friendship, and community. Jennifer’s legacy is one of love, resilience, and inspiration, and her spirit will continue to guide all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Memorial, funeral, and visitation details will be announced soon. All who wish to honor her life are warmly invited to join in celebrating her memory and the lasting impact she made on those around her.
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