Andersen, Diane
Diane Marie (Potfora) Andersen, born April 3, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan died peacefully at home surrounded by her husband and children after a long battle with cancer on Sunday, March 5, 2023. Cremation is planned and a Celebration of Life will be held.
Diane Andersen was born in Detroit Michigan, the fourth and youngest child of Sophie and William Potfora.
She attended a Polish parochial school in Wyandotte Michigan and worked with her siblings in the family-owned grocery store. Grocery stores were her favorite places to shop and explore to find new products to try. She was an amazing cook and loved to keep family traditions and recipes alive, especially around holiday celebrations. Diane was never happier than when she could feed someone and share her cooking and baking with people she loved. Tea Parties, Easter breads, Christmas cookies, Polish sausage and her famous “Hors D’oerves for dinner” were classics at the Andersen house.
As a young girl Diane started taking ballet to build up strength in her legs after a mild case of childhood polio. A ballerina was born! Dancing played a big part in her life and upon moving to Jamestown in 1964, she established Andersen’s School of Dance in 1965. Numerous local children have fond memories taking dance classes and performing in recitals. The pinnacle of her dance career was the invitation to travel to Russia in 1980 to attend an International Ballet Festival at the Bolshoi Ballet. She set aside her fear of flying to make this special trip of a lifetime.
After the closing the dance school Diane and John opened Babcia’s Tea Room on Washington Street in Sonora. A labor of love, they used family recipes and cooked with love for all their customers.
Diane belonged to the Venture Club, Soroptimist Club and Omega Nu where she enjoyed the community service and the laughter of the many wonderful women that she served with.
Diane had a big loving heart. She cared deeply for her friends and family. Everywhere she went she made friends! Her closest friends were so important to her, some of them sharing over 50 years of life’s trials and blessings. In retirement she found time to read Jane Austen books and loved all period drama movies. She enjoyed the romantic simpler times of those stories and read hundreds of adapted Austen
stories online, befriending several authors of the books she enjoyed. She loved her lunches with her “Ladies Group”. One of the things she really enjoyed for entertainment was going to the casino and playing the slots. Even in her final months of life, a trip to the casino was her idea of fun.
Her greatest joy was to focus her attention on her granddaughters and great-grandchildren. They were showered with love, encouragement, and attention. Her favorite expressions were “I love you big bunches!” “Don’t behave!” and when you told her you loved her she would say “ You’d better!”
Married for 61 years, Diane and John created a home filled with love, laughter and compassion. Ann and Tom have countless friends who recall the Andersen house as a fun place and safe space to gather.
Diane endured cancer, fighting along the way with John caring for her. The Andersen family would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the wonderful people at the Diana White Cancer Center, Dr. Shields office and most especially the amazing team of hospice nurses who cared for our mother and our whole family.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating in her memory to Hospice of Sonora.
The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life at the Opera Hall on Saturday July 8th, 2023 from 1-4PM.
Survived by her husband of 61 years, John Andersen of Sonora.
Her daughter Annmarie (Ann Andersen) Cameron, Michael Cameron of Santa Barbara.
Granddaughters Morgan Cameron and Sophie Cameron of Santa Barbara.
Her son Thomas Andersen and Shelley of Sonora.
Granddaughter Amanda Pors, Justin, their children Grant and Emerson of Morgan Hill.
Granddaughter Stephanie Lohman, Zach, their children, Trey, Aubree, Jackson and Jayden, of Sonora.
Her sister Irene Mros of Phoenix, Az and Ellie Pinner of Waterford, Mi.
And many beloved nieces, and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her mother, father and brother, Sophie, William and Robert Potfora
Terzich & Wilson Cremation-Funeral Home entrusted with Cremation arrangements
- Date of Death: 03/05/2023
- Age: 82
- Residence: Sonora, CA
- Celebration of Life: at the Opera Hall on Saturday July 8th, 2023 from 1-4PM
