Anita R. Vanderlinden

Anita R. Vanderlinden, age 89, a 30- year resident of Clinton Township and formerly from Fraser, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at Angelica’s Place Nursing Center in Romeo, Michigan. Anita was born November 7, 1926 in Detroit, the daughter of John and Anna (Pedovai) Annabring. Though much younger than her sister Elsie (Kramer) and brother John, she remained close with both of them throughout their lives. Anita graduated from Detroit Denby High School in 1945 and soon began working at the JL Hudson company in downtown before beginning work as a legal secretary. One of her early positions at Hudson’s, prophetically, was in the gift wrap department, as her family would come to know her as a thoughtful, generous and prolific gift giver later in life. She married Rene Vanderlinden in 1948 and began a new career as the consummate homemaker and mother of three; Jim (64), Janice (62) and Mark (58). She was active in PTA, a den mother, seamstress, cook, entertainer and also assisted Rene with bookkeeping. When the children were grown, she re-entered the work force doing secretarial work. Then suddenly, at age 52, she found herself a widow with very limited financial assets. This began another remarkable step in her journey as she turned some temporary assignments into a full time career at the GM Tech Center. She worked in the Engineering Department at the Tech Center for 18 years until her retirement in 1995, made new friends and developed new interests including skiing and golf, which she played until her 80’s. She also served as secretary for her golf league at Bello Woods for many years. Anita also traveled extensively. Some highlights include trips to Africa, Paris, Mexico, several states in the Western US and visits with friends and family in Florida, Ohio and Texas, where her sister Elsie, with whom she shared a special bond, lived to the age of 93. She will be remembered by all for her kindness, consideration and sense of humor and missed as the independent and fun-loving grandmother to 6, great grandmother of 4 and great- great grandmother of 1. The family will hold a memorial in the Spring. Local arrangements will be made by the Henry Malburg Funeral Home in Romeo.