Title	Mrs.
Last Name	Granger
First Name	Anne
Middle Name	Marie
Maiden Name	Cederstrom
Nick Name
Place of Birth	Stoneham, MA
Date of Birth	1929-11-04
Place of Death
Date of Death	2023-07-26
Publication	Legacy 2023-08-07
Obituary	Norman Rockwell once said, "Here in New England, the character is strong and unshakable," a sentiment we like to think was written about our beloved mother, grandmother, wife, and sister, Anne Marie [Cederstrom] Granger, who passed of her own will in the morning hours of July 26, 2023. She was 93. In what has already become family legend, she decided her time here was finished, announced as much, and peacefully left us behind. She died as she lived, on her terms. Anne was born in Stoneham, MA on November 4, 1929. The third child of four, she was surrounded by brothers, which undoubtedly contributed to her tough exterior. At the age of 15, the family moved to Southport, ME. It was here that Anne met Pete Granger, a Boothbay Harbor native, whom she would shortly thereafter wed and spend the next 75 years of her life with. Like her recently late husband, Anne was as synonymous with New England as a weathered-gray lobster trap is. She spoke in a clipped but warm non-rhoticity that somehow always conveyed a genuine, though never indulgent, interest. She had the matter-of-fact sensibility of a woman who had lost a parent at a young age, survived the depression, endured the painstaking uncertainty of sending her true love off to war, raised 6 children? one of which she had to say goodbye to far too early? and managed a household down to the penny. This is to say she'd been through it all and saw no sense in making a big deal of things that surely didn't warrant such. As the matriarch of a huge family, she hosted with grace and competence, seemingly year-round. Their home in Bridgewater, NJ was the site of countless reunions and holiday celebrations. For more than 4 decades, she cooked Thanksgiving dinner with little help ? for as many as 50 people and well into her 80s? and without complaint. She was far too practical to waste precious time on something that would get you nowhere anyway. Their summer lake house in Dexter, Maine was a constantly revolving door of company and each group she welcomed with open arms, fresh wildflowers on bedside tables, and a wry smile that always seemed to wordlessly say, "Here we go again." She had a subtle sense of humor that she shared sparingly, making it all the more enjoyable for those who witnessed it. She could return a jest as quickly as she received one, which always left her quick-to-laugh husband hooting with delight as he feigned surprise. Anne adored the natural world for all its simplicity, beauty, innocence, and power to awaken the imagination. From a young age she discovered a love of looking up to see what characters and stories the clouds had for her each day. This love of pareidolia continued throughout her life and was passed down to many of her children and grandchildren. Though she only attended university for a year, Anne was incredibly knowledgeable of many subjects including plants, trees, flowers, and birds. She was a voracious reader and had the curiosity of a naturalist and the perception of a novelist. Each of these traits, along with a lifetime spent closely observing the world around her, helped her foster a deep understanding of the environment and her place in it. She was predictable in the best way possible? in the way that only a woman who truly knew herself and wasn't afraid to be herself could be. She expected respect. She expected consideration. She expected decency and her expectations made us all better people. She showed her love by way of small acts of service, preparing a favorite dessert or setting a dinner table that welcomed long and lively conversations. Though never overly emotional nor remotely maudlin, at no time did she ever shy away from an expression of love and she always returned it with a, "Love you too, dear." In the way that those who speak the most sparingly are often the wisest, she seemed to prove that those who love the most humbly, often love the truest. Where there was never a need for interpretation was in her love for her husband. Blindingly obvious to all, she adored him in a way that is rarely seen today, and through their final moments together. Anne lived to care for Pete and care for him she did. They were true partners, and truly in love. Never once did they walk side-by-side without holding hands, miss a turn on the dance floor when Glenn Miller's big band began playing, "In the Mood," or speak to one another with anything but respect. Pete was larger than life and shone as bright as the sun, and while Anne often lived in his shadow, she shone no less brightly. Afterall, she was the one, the only one, who held the place that could reflect his glow. She was the moon to his sun. Anne is survived by her children Kathy Lion, Christy Richardson, Eric Granger, Susan Hammer, and Rod Granger; her sons-in-law, David Lion, Dempsey Richardson, and Jon Hammer; daughters-in-law, Audrey Mothner-Granger, Christina Granger, and Teresa Granger, her 13 grandchildren; her 14 great-grandchildren; her youngest brother, Paul Cederstrom and many more loving family and friends. She is predeceased by her son, Karl, and best friend and husband, Pete. A memorial for family and friends for both Anne and Pete will be held later this month in their beloved home state of Maine. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to The Muscular Dystrophy Association or Maine Audubon Society. To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store. Published by Legacy Remembers from Aug. 7 to Aug. 14, 2023.