Lauren Marie (Anderson) Anderson

Our beloved Lauren passed from this life and into the arms of her Lord and Savior on June 3, 2022, surrounded by family and covered in prayer. Lauren was born in Albuquerque on June 12, 1981. She attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque and completed her senior year in Los Angeles, graduating from Palos Verdes High in 1999. Lauren attended the University of New Mexico as a double major in Pure Mathematics and Piano Performance.

Lauren had the capacity to squeeze every ounce out of any passion she pursued. Her aptitude and affinity for music began very early. At the age of 5, she began to teach herself piano and her unique ability was apparent. Over the years she would grow and excel in her abilities on the piano that was only augmented by her mathematical prowess. She was able to see, play and apply the correlations between the two, each amplifying the other as she fed her God-given talent. At university her talent would be recognized by Professor Falko Steinbach as he took Lauren on as a pupil. Access to that environment enabled Lauren to travel to places like Italy and Germany to compete, perform, and attend conservatory classes. Her mother Rosalind recalled a performance in Rome saying Lauren's music floated through the alleyways and lilted across the cobblestone streets. Rosalind often remarked that she could picture the music's composers looking down on Lauren and exclaiming, "...Yes! That is exactly what I wanted, how I wanted it to be played!" Lauren interweaved her heart and soul into every piece of music she played. This music so uniquely played straight from the heart turned heads and amassed an audience at any venue. It was a special blessing and privilege to be afforded the opportunity to hear her play. There was a sense of pride in knowing her, the pianist around whom everyone gathered to hear, their ears clinging to every stroke of a key.

Lauren's infectious personality and sharp wit bedazzled those who met her. A local artist wrote about her in a local publication saying, "Her spirit crawled up my spine and into my brain and rested there." Lauren had the ability to make a lasting impression on people, some even just having met on the street as she offered them a blanket or shoes. She was kind and compassionate.

An accomplished athlete in high school, Lauren ran cross country and represented her team in the state finals. She was able to bear through the pain and tap into her competitive drive. This bled into her placing in the annual La Luz trail run while she was still in high school. She also read voraciously. If she found a subject of interest, she would gather every book she could find on the subject and read them all. Any composer that piqued her interest was studied thoroughly. This allowed her to channel the disposition and time in the life of any given composer and transpose it into her music as she played their composition.

Lauren's passions spilled into her family life. She loved her family immensely. Lauren became somewhat of a nanny (for lack of a better term) for her young niece Britain in her younger years. Lauren would light up when she was around Britain. She would spend countless hours reading with her, teaching her piano and the Russian language-of which she became so fond. Lauren loved long walks with her Husky, Denali, oftentimes treating her to multiple walks a day. The pair would be seen trekking the grounds of UNM and spending time at the duck pond. Denali was her fierce companion.

In death, Lauren leaves behind her father Glenn, mother Rosalind, stepparents Terry and Vicki, sisters Marian, Brooke, and Cindy, brother Clint, nephews Dominic, Grayson, Max, and Dru, nieces Hayden, McKenna, Nadine, Elise, Britain, Charlotte, and Hazel, her dog Denali, and so many more family and friends. We who shared 40 years with Lauren are profoundly thankful our Lord allowed us to experience every moment, whether wonderful or challenging. Each of us that knew Lauren is better for it. Our hearts ache, and we miss her deeply. We take solace in the fact that she plays piano for the Lord now where there is no more weeping, no more pain, and no more sorrow.

A memorial service will be held for Lauren on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the FRENCH-Lomas.

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind."-CS Lewis