Anita Constance Sandberg was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, on November 30, 1921. Her parents, Nathaniel and Hilda, had emigrated from Sweden to America earlier that century, and met and married in their adopted country. She had an older brother, Waldo (who passed away in his 20’s), and an older sister, Angelyn (Ann), whose twin had died when she was one year old, as did another brother. She grew up in a community where many of her Swedish relatives lived nearby.
Anita had artistic talent, and longed to study art, but her father had her keep books for his machine shop.
A handsome young man named Bill Hanna saw her graduation picture, and wanted to meet her, so a meeting was arranged. As soon as Bill asked Anita to marry him, he told her, “We are going to have six children.” Bill and Anita were married at her parent’s home, because Anita was shy and didn’t want a big wedding, on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1942.
They moved into an apartment in Attleboro, and Bill promised her that she would never have to work outside the home, and never have to work with numbers again. And they did have six children! “The big kids,” Joyce (1943), Beverly (1946), Billy (1947), and “the little kids,” Cindy (1953), Jon (1955) and Mark (1958). In 1947, the young family built a basement in Foxboro, MA, calling it home until they built the Cape Cod style house over it a few years later. Together Bill and Anita worked along with others with hammer and saw on the construction.
Anita and Bill provided their brood with many wonderful childhood experiences: hiking in High Rock State Forest, boating on the small cabin cruiser “Happy Hanna” on Cape Cod, sailing, picnics, camping in Maine, sledding in the back yard. Bill even built a playground on their property with a huge swing, jungle gym, see saw and merry-go round. Mom was content overseeing her busy family. Hers was a home with heart.
She saw to it that her children faithfully attended Sunday School and church, just as her parents had done with her. She modeled godly living, and “never drank, smoked or swore.” Later in life, her grown children recall her habit of awaking, getting a cup of coffee (as all good Swedes do) and reading her Bible. She had many adages she repeated, including, “If you can’t say something nice don’t say it!”
Anita and Bill lived in Boston for a year before Bill retired, then built a log cabin, with some help from their children, in Jefferson, Maine, and moved into their home on Damariscotta Lake in 1982.
Anita was a talented artist, working in charcoal, pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolor. Her paintings have won awards, and been displayed in many exhibits, and she has illustrated two privately published books. She decorated cakes, arranged flowers, and made porcelain dolls. While volunteering at Owls Head Transportation Museum, she restored life-size antique mannequins. In addition, Anita loved old buttons, eventually organizing and cataloging her collection of 22,000 buttons.
Anita was appreciative of her heritage, and researched family history and genealogy. She also started writing memoirs, using the many notes she kept of stories from her parents’ generation and her own childhood. It is a treasure of knowledge preserved for future generations to enjoy.
When Bill and Anita were 89 years old, they sold their log cabin and moved to Schooner Cove, where they could enjoy the view of Damariscotta River from their living room. The Valentine’s Day sweethearts celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary this past February, truly a milestone.
After a long and fruitful life, Anita went to be with her Lord on August 22, 2012. Her beloved husband, six children, ten grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren love her and miss her dearly, and will always treasure all the wonderful memories.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME. Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting: www.StrongHancock.com.
