Corinne Anderson Obituary

Corinne Dolores Anderson

February 19, 1944 – April 22, 2025

Corinne Dolores Anderson of Lawrence died peacefully in hospice care at home on April 22, 2025. She was 81 years old.

Corinne was born on February 19, 1944, in New Haven, Connecticut, the daughter of Vincent and Dolores (Bouffard) Harmon. She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Notre Dame College in Staten Island, NY, and went on to master's and doctoral studies in French language and literature at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She was awarded grants from the Fulbright Program and the French government to study in France-a country whose culture she cherished deeply throughout her life.

While at UW, she met her former husband, Robert Anderson. They moved to Lawrence in 1970. Corinne taught French for more than forty years at the University of Kansas, where she was deeply involved in both teaching and advising. She led KU's Summer Language Institutes in Paris, Normandy, Brittany, and Strasbourg and was honored with the Mortar Board Award for Excellence in Teaching. She joined KU's Undergraduate Advising Center in 1998 and served as a faculty advisor until her retirement in 2014. She loved advising- during her final weeks of life, she was still giving guidance to her nurses at KU Medical Center about their courses of study.

Corinne also taught at Carroll College (Waukesha, WI), Washburn University, and Bishop Seabury Academy. She served as president of the Kansas Foreign Language Association and was a member of Friends in Council.

Corinne had many interests. She loved the ocean, art, music, good food, her dogs Walter and Alex, and traveling with her family. She had a strong dislike for Donald Trump and wasn't shy about saying so. She had many meaningful friendships throughout her life, including close relationships with colleagues, former students, and new friends she made later in life, especially in her weekly coffee group. In the final weeks of her life, she received many messages, calls, and visits from friends, which meant a great deal to her and to her family.

She is survived by her son Christopher and grandson Amane; her son Matthew, son-in-law John, and granddaughter Nora; her siblings Joan, Tom, and Fred; and her niece and nephews Amanda, Seth, and Jeff.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence at 10:30 am on Friday, May 9, 2025, with a reception to follow. She will be buried at Pioneer Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Corinne's name to Unbound (Christian Foundation for Children) or to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association, and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.