Kathleen Marian Sanders

Kathleen Marian Sanders (nee Fredericks), age 102 passed away peacefully on Friday, July 29, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Marian was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Olaf and Ann Marie Fredericks who move the family to Jersey City when Marian was seven.  As a member of the "Greatest Generation" she lived through and was witness to so many of the amazing, often sad and troubling, events and changes our country has experienced over the last hundred years.

From growing up in the Great Depression, to watching the Hindenburg go overhead on its fatal voyage, to waving to Franklin Roosevelt as his train passed their home, to meeting and marrying her husband, Rex, of over fifty years in 1942, Marian's first twenty-three years would fill most lifetimes.  World War II had already begun and Rex was an artillery lieutenant in the US Army.  Marian moved with him to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and then on to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  And, when his orders moved him to yet another post, she traveled across half the U.S. on her own, by train, while pregnant with their first child, Jim.  

Upon Rex's return from Europe following the war's end, they welcomed a daughter, Barbara, and moved to Wayne.  In Wayne, Gordon, Jean, and Katie joined the family.  A devoted mother, Marian focused on raising the children through more turbulent and exciting times, namely the fifties, sixties, and seventies.  She lived in Wayne for 77 years with the last 64 years in the same home on Shore Road which Rex built.

Marian returned to the work place as part of the municipal government of Wayne Township.  She was a founding member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church.  As a member of the "Twiggs", she and co-members created arts and crafts for patients at the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital.  An enduring love of gardening led her to longtime involvement in the Riverview Community Garden Club.  And not the least of her favorite activities was her love of the once-a-month meetings with neighborhood friends to play Canasta.

One of Marian's favorite activities was traveling.  She and Rex took many car trips including both East and West coasts.  They enjoyed cruises with Bermuda being a particular favorite.  Also high on the list of favorite activities was dancing.  She and Rex enjoyed going to dance classes and any event where they could enjoy dancing.

Sadly, in March of 1997, Rex passed away while battling colon cancer.  In September of 2013, tragedy struck again as her son Gordon lost his battle with cancer.  Nothing meant more to Marian than spending time with family which grew from children to grandchildren to great grandchildren.  Her love of traveling did not cease and many trips with family members were part of her senior years.  She was an outgoing, social lady with a sharp sense of humor who touched the lives of many people and who will be sincerely missed by all who knew her.

Marian is survived by her three daughters;  Barbara Hanenberg and her husband Alan of Whiting, NJ, Jean Sanders of Wayne,NJ, and Katie Sanders of Wayne; son Jim Sanders and his wife Christine Allen-Sanders of Export, PA; nine grand children including James A. Sanders and wife Tracy of Plum, PA, Jennifer Sanders-Mink and her husband Jim of Greensburg, PA, Christopher Sanders and wife Michelle Stewart of Monroeville, PA, Joshua Sanders and wife Tiffany of Trafford, PA, Nicholas Sanders of Export, PA, Jason Trovy of Export, Carolyn Mayers and husband Scott of Ocean, NJ, Andrew Hanenberg and wife Michele of Indian Trail, NC, and Maxwell Sanders of Wayne. Grandson Michael Hanenberg is greeting his grandmother in heaven now.  There are six great grandchildren, Olivia Sanders, Finley Hanenberg, Elysia Mink, Aidan Sanders, Zachary Sanders, and Matthew Sanders.