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In memory of

Erin Lee Anderson

Rohnert Park, CA

March 7, 1966 - October 16, 2019

Mar 7, 1966 - Oct 16, 2019

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Erin Lee Anderson of Rohnert Park, California passed away in Santa Rosa at the age of 53 with her partner Dominic Rubke holding her hand, after a brave battle with ovarian cancer on Wednesday, October 16, 2019. Erin was born in Berkeley, California to Oscar Albin Anderson and Donna Lee Stegman. Erin was raised mostly in Sonoma County and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts at Sonoma State University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from University of San Francisco. In addition to working as a mental health case manager, Erin also had a varied and talented career in theater and as a vocalist of both classical and modern music. Erin had a beautiful mezzo soprano voice and used it in many opera productions at Sonoma State under the direction of the Peggy Donovan-Jeffry, including the roles of Maria in Most Happy Fella, Phobia in Pizza Con Funghi, and Florence Pike in Albert Herring, along with performing in many classical recitals, chamber music and also cabaret shows. Additional roles in local theater included Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, Juno in Orpheus and the Underworld and she also sang in many cabaret shows at Redwood Empire Lyric Theatre.
During Erin’s battle against cancer she was supported by friends and family, who volunteered to spend time with her up to 24 hours a day, and another group of friends who brought her delicious and nutritious food and therapeutic drinks — both of which were evidence of the love and dedication that Erin engendered in others. Erin was caring, thoughtful, fun-loving, an advocate for everyone who needed her help, and she is dearly missed by all of those who had the pleasure of having Erin in their lives.
Erin was an amazing spirit who touched the lives of all who knew her. One of Erin’s heroes was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and she strived for the same peaceful and loving fight for equity that he believed in. She was a regular in the Sonoma County dance scene and regularly participated in such activities as the Redwood Café Monday Pro Jam and various open mics (sometimes along with her beautiful daughter Sophia.) Erin loved the works of the artist Frida Kahlo, loved music by the Beatles, loved to listen and dance to Blues music, supported the music of diverse cultures, adored spending time with friends and family, loved wine-tasting with her father and stepmother, loved going out on the town, and more. She was fun-loving and firmly believed in living life to its absolute fullest.
Erin lives on in the hearts of her daughter, Sophia Celeste Orlando and stepdaughter Shantaya Orlando, mother Donna Stegman and her partner Bob Peyton, father Oscar Anderson and stepmother Holly Hartley, partner Dominic Rubke, sister and brother-in-law Susan and Dave DeVries, brother and sister-in-law John and Flo Anderson, sister and brother-in–law Claire and Jerald Pendleton, six nieces and one nephew, one great-nephew and one great-niece, aunt Susan Commins, six cousins, a and hundreds of dear and loving extended family and friends.

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