Mary Jane Anderson, 87

Mary Jane Anderson, who was active in East Hampton Town politics and headed its Women’s Republican Club, died on Saturday at the Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Quiogue. She had just turned 87 and had a short illness following hospitalization.

Mrs. Anderson, the former Mary Jane MacGarva, was born in the family home on McGuirk Street in East Hampton on July 7, 1931, to the former Gertrude McDonald and Robert A. MacGarva Sr. She attended East Hampton High School and went to work as a switchboard operator for the New York Telephone Company, first in New York City and then at 1 Main Street, where the company had local headquarters.

She met her husband to be, Charles T. Anderson, while he was stationed with the Navy in Amagansett. They were married on Nov. 16, 1952, in St. Philomena’s, now Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, in East Hampton. His tenure in East Hampton government, as town clerk and tax receiver, covered many years, during which, in the 1970s and ’80s, she not only was active in Republican affairs but worked in the East Hampton High School library.

Mrs. Anderson’s Catholic faith was strong. She taught religious education at the Most Holy Trinity parish, visited the homebound, and served as a eucharistic minister. Her family said she also was fond of going to the beach and enjoyed watching sunsets and playing golf.

She and her husband, who died before her, were the parents of six daughters, all of whom survive. They are Marlene Ferro of Palm Harbor, Fla., Diane Blase of Wesley Chapel, Fla., Cindi Griffiths of Lewes, Del., Sharon Anderson of New York City, and Patti Jack and Sheila Bennett, both of East Hampton. 

Mrs. Anderson also is survived by a brother, Richard MacGarva of North Haven, and by nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

Two siblings, Robert MacGarva Jr. of East Hampton and Gertrude Ferrara of Sag Harbor, died before her.

Visiting hours were to be today at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial is to be said tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Most Holy Trinity Church, with burial to follow in the church cemetery on Cedar Street. 

Memorial donations have been suggested for East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach 11978, and the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kan. 66675-8517.