Marjorie Prichard Cole Anderson

We are sad to announce that Marjorie Prichard Cole Anderson passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family on November 4th, 2022, at the age of 93.

Marj grew up in Glen Ellyn and had a wonderful childhood with three brothers and a sister. She graduated from Glenbard West High School in 1947. From her early childhood, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a teaching degree. She taught a couple of years in Downers Grove and then moved back to Glen Ellyn in 1963. There she taught first grade at Forest Glen Grade School for nearly 30 years and loved every minute of it. Most of which was in the same classroom. She was a much-loved teacher and was blessed to stay in contact with many of her former students and parents for the rest of her life. She was innovative for her time and believed in hands on learning. Many will remember her puppet shows. 

While at NIU, she met the love of her life, Kenneth Cole. They were married in 1951. They had a great life together and truly adored each other. They raised two children Barbara and Gordon. Ken passed away in 1982. At the age of 80 she married Bill Anderson and they spent some wonderful years together dancing the night away. Bill passed away in 2011.

Marj was active in DuPage County and Milton Township politics where she served as a Republican precinct committeeman and as office manager to State Representative Vince Persico. She was an integral member of the Central DuPage Kiwanis Club for many years where she won a national award for her service. She was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn and the First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn. 

She was nearly a lifelong resident of Glen Ellyn. Marj managed the Glenbard West Class of 1947 reunions for nearly 70 years. She was an avid stamp collector and button collector. She made many pieces of art out of old and rare buttons. She loved doing jigsaw puzzles. Marj is survived by her daughter Barb Cole Mashburn (Jim Dorfman), son Gordon (Maggie) Cole, brother Harold "Snub" Prichard, granddaughters Sarah Mashburn and Amy Mashburn Decker and grandsons Kenneth Cole and Bradley Cole. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Kenneth Cole and Bill Anderson, her parents, Harold and Ann Bailey Prichard, brothers Merrill Prichard, Don Prichard, and sister Marylyn Conrad Hamen. 

Visitation will be Saturday, November 12th at Leonard Memorial Home, 565 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn, IL from 12:00PM to 3:00PM with an informal service at 2:30PM. Following the service, everyone is invited to a Celebration of Marj's life from 3:00PM to 5:00PM at Santa Fe Restaurant, 426 N. Main Street, Glen Ellyn. In lieu of flowers, the family respectively requests memorial gifts in Marjorie's name to Support Over Stigma, Military Support | Supportoverstigma.org, or Salute Inc., Saluteinc.org

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