September 27, 1938 — April 18, 2023

Margaret Gentile Anderson was born on September 27, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the second of three children born to Michael Nicola Gentile and Irma Mae Moore. She grew up in Brooklyn near lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles. She spent many summer days at Coney Island and family vacations in the Catskills. Marge attended Fort Hamilton High School and served as captain of the cheerleading squad. In her senior year of high school she met her life-long friend, Catherine (Smith) Groscost, who introduced her to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Catherine attended BYU after graduation while Marge remained in New York City where she began to attend the Brooklyn Branch. She continued to learn more about the gospel at cottage meetings hosted by a young convert named Irving Cohen. The following winter, Marge decided to attend BYU as a non-member and reconnect with her dear friend Catherine. She was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 14, 1957. It was at BYU where Marge met B. Ray Anderson and they were married on April 15, 1960 in the Salt Lake Temple. Soon thereafter, they moved to Washington, DC, where B. Ray attended George Washington University Law School. While there, they welcomed three children. In 1964, they moved to California, and added four more children to the family. After 18 years in California they moved to Mapleton, Utah, and later retired to Provo. Marge returned to BYU to finish her degree and graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in history. She had a life-long passion for education and taught her children to love learning. She had a quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. She loved to laugh and to tell stories. She was a “fun” mom and provided a home where her children could bring friends and always feel comfortable. She served faithfully in many church callings, including serving in Young Women’s, twice as Relief Society President, a Stake Missionary, and a full-time mission with B. Ray in the Canary Islands. She was also an ordinance worker in the Oakland and San Diego Temples. Marge had a life-long dedication to family history work. She had a firm testimony of the Plan of Salvation and worked tirelessly to research her ancestry and to do the temple work for many of her ancestors. She also taught her children to love family history work and to understand the importance of it. Marge was also a wonderful missionary, unafraid to share her testimony of the restored gospel. She filled her life with love and service to others. She was a fierce defender of her family members and unafraid to fight for what was right. Throughout her life, she felt inspired to help many people both spiritually and temporally, often opening her home to them. She advocated for many who needed someone to stand up for them. Marge was preceded in death by her father, mother, sister Antoinette Gentile, brother Michael Gentile, and grandson Anders Hart. She is survived by her husband, sons David (Jackie) Anderson and John (Hui) Anderson, daughters Cathi (Brad) Hepworth, Liza Spencer, Jenni Anderson, Becki (Jason) Speck, and Ami (Alex) Hart, 19 grandchildren, and many others who looked to her as a mother figure.