Juanita Marcella Roberts
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth Date: 23 Mar 1913 - 642 S. Evergreen Ave., Kankakee, Illinois, USA
Christening:
Death: 12 Apr 2009 - St Margaret Mercy Hospital, Dyer, Lake, Indiana, USA
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Events
• Soc Sec Num: 336-20-820.
Parents
Father: Suell Glen Roberts
Mother: Elsie May Mossman
Spouses and Children
1. *George Andrew Andersen
Marriage: 31 Jul 1930 - Crown Point, Illinois
Notes
General:
Per 1930 US Census: 4/2/1930, 23 155th St., Harvey City, Thornton Township, Cook County, Illinois
F. Glen Roberts is the 36 year old white male head of household, who owns his home valued at $18,000, and a radio. Born in Illinois, as were his parents, he is employed as a merchant in a wholesale market. He is not a veteran. He first got married at age 18, to then 17 year old Elsie M. Roberts. Elsie is now 35 years old, born in Illinois as were her parents. Elsie is attending school. They have 2 daughters, both born in Illinois, both attending school: 17 year old Juanita M. Roberts; 12 year old Helen M. Roberts.
Per Social Security death index:
JUANITA MARCELLA ANDERSEN
Born: 23 Mar 1913
Died: 12 Apr 2009 (P)
LLast Residence: 60417 (Crete, Will, IL)
SSN:336-20-8202 Issued in Illinois
Juanita Andersen: Crete woman was a true original: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
SouthtownStar (Chicago, IL) - April 19, 2009 Page: A3
Deceased Name: Juanita Andersen: Crete woman was a true original
Juanita Andersen was born 96 years ago - on Easter. She died a week ago - on Easter. In between, the Crete woman squeezed in the equivalent of a couple of dozen lifetimes, dying with just one, maybe two, regrets. "She never made it to Africa," daughter Sylvia Neitzel said. "And she never made it to Antarctica." Every once in a while, an obituary jumps off the page at you. They're packed with enough facts and quirks that it's hard to believe the person who died once walked among us commoners. Juanita Andersen had one of those obituaries. Before feminism was a part of most vocabularies, the spirit was alive and well in the woman who grew up in the small Iroquois County town of Sheldon. In 1948, Andersen and her husband, George, moved from Blue Island to a one-room schoolhouse they purchased at an auction on Klemme and Bemes roads in Crete. The couple knew nothing about farming, but they soon acquired a flock of 1,800 turkeys. Many of those birds made their way onto Thanksgiving tables in the Chicago area. The Andersens raised five children on the farm until her husband died in 1967 from lung cancer. The new widow was approaching 60. Andersen could have spent the rest of her years content, but she was just hitting her stride. "I think my mother started feeling footloose and fancy free," Neitzel said. "She wanted to enjoy life." Andersen set a goal to see as much of the world as possible. She avoided the tours geared for senior citizens, stayed away from the tourist traps and chose to stay for weeks in out-of-the way spots, mingling with the people and taking in the native food. Much of the time she traveled by herself, hop-scotching between her old home in Crete and the continents. The adventurous side often put her in danger. Once, on a trip through Europe, her train stalled in the Italian countryside. Andersen hooked up with German backpackers, mostly students 50 years her juniors, and hiked to the next station several miles away. Another time, she was robbed in Turkey and pushed down a flight of stairs. In a trip through the Caribbean, she was forced to pay bribes to crooked cops so she could avoid phony charges and jail (like she really had to leave home for that). Even though she was in her 70s and 80s, Andersen relished the experiences. "She didn't care what happened," her daughter said. "I don't think she was every really afraid." Bored in the States, she bought a home in Jamaica, coming back to Crete every few weeks. She somehow managed to find the time to acquire her real estate license and become one of first precinct committeewomen in Will County. To keep in shape, she swam laps every morning until she was 95. "She was - believe me - a very strong, opinionated woman. She did whatever she wanted to do," said daughter-in-law Claudette Andersen. "But everyone who knew her really loved her. People who met her really admired what she did." A stroke a couple of years ago took away much of her vigor. She died barely conscious, keeping time by squeezing her hand to a Henry Mancini tune playing in her room. The Easter baby died on Easter - the perfect bookends to a life story that could fill a library. "It seemed right," her daughter said. There will be no funeral, but a memorial service today at United Methodist Church in Crete will be packed. Andersen was adamant that her body be donated to a local medical school for students to study. For someone who could have taught us a thing or two about living, there isn't a better ending. Guy Tridgell can be reached at gtridgell@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5970.