Karen Anderson Born September 4, 1936 - Died January 18,

Karen Anderson Born September 4, 1936 - Died January 18, 2025 Karen Anderson (Nancy Karen Heiberger), 88, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the love of her family and community. She will be deeply missed by her sons Brian (Judy), Scott (Maria Mondragon), and Chris, as well as her six granddaughters Natalie, Stella, Lillian, Audrey, Martha, and Charlotte. Born in Hannibal, Missouri, Karen was the eldest child of William and Helen Heiberger. In 1948, Karen's father passed away suddenly, leaving her mother to run the family grocery stores (Heibergers) and Karen to care for her two siblings, Courtney and William. This proved to be her training ground to becoming the world's greatest mother in the eyes of her sons. She attended Christian Female College (now Columbia) and later Central Methodist University, where she met her future husband, Ralph Anderson. Karen and her family moved from St. Louis to Albuquerque in 1974, where she would create a dream home for her family and live for the rest of her life. Though she loved New Mexico's landscapes and culture, she always cherished memories of the Mississippi River and her hometown of Hannibal. Her six granddaughters were a source of endless joy and pride in her life. She influenced them with her terrific style and taste and loved to take them on shopping trips and showcase her skills at sleuthing a great bargain. Her home and garden she lovingly maintained, and found great happiness in cooking for family and friends or watching her sons and granddaughters cook for her. Karen treasured her friendships and was grateful for the kindness of those who helped her in her later years. A devoted supporter of the arts, she served on the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra board and was a passionate advocate for animal rights. She cherished her own beloved dogs. Her generosity extended to many causes, including volunteering as a docent at the Albuquerque Museum, serving on the Altar Guild at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral and supporting local shelters. She will be remembered for her wry humor, impeccable taste, deep compassion, and infectious laugh. The family extends heartfelt thanks to her caregivers at La Vita Bella (Cassandra) and Retreat at Home. (Ann), the hospice team at Legacy (Lucky), and the team of doctors and nurses at Lovelace Medical Center, in particular Dr. Christian Smith. A memorial service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ASPCA (aspca.org) or Animal Protection New Mexico (apnm.org) in Karen's honor. For a full obituary, visit Legacy.com.