Anne Sorden made her glorious entrance to this world on November 29, 1940 when she was born to Captain Robert N. and Dorothy "Pat" McFarlane.  Her big sister, Charlsey, welcomed her arrival into the family and loved and protected her all her life.  Anne was a shy, imaginative, sensitive girl who decided by the age of 9 that she wouldn't take any guff from anyone.  She grew up to be a powerful force of a woman with a quick wit, amazing common sense and keen intuition.  She made this world a more beautiful place with her art, writing, and by advocating for others.

Her intellectual, artistic mother fostered Anne's love of art and the written word.  Helping others and giving a hand wherever it was needed was a life-long value she embodied and learned from her father.  Both her parents' Scottish ancestry infused her with a strong work ethic and self-determination.  Anne's red hair, temper, and strong opinions went hand in hand with her deeply caring nature and generosity.  She appreciated every day she lived and was grateful for everything she had.  "This I'll Defend," is on the McFarlane clan crest and also in her heart when it came to family, friends, or causes.  No doubt the MacDonalds (her mother's family) had an equally powerful motto.

Anne developed life long friends in grade school in her hometown of Arlington, Virginia and in college at the University of Delaware.  Her friends were devoted to her.  She studied English and worked in editing after graduating, but her real dream was to become a mother.  After a brief, fabulous stint in Manhattan, New York, she moved across the country to the San Francisco Bay Area in California.  She married and became a mother of two and loved her family with a passion.  But her crowning achievement truly is the way she mothered and mentored so many other people throughout her life.  She was like a "Mom" to many – helping people believe in themselves, go for their dreams, stand up for themselves, and she made them feel truly accepted and loved.

Even though she lived to be 81, Anne was never "old."  She had friends her same age and friends who were decades younger than her too, just as her mother had before her.  Having younger friends was fun and interesting and kept her mind open and challenged.  Anne bought a red Ford Mustang in her 40's.  In her 50's she started a career as a domestic violence advocate with the Support Network for Battered Women, working on a 24-hour crisis line and helping women and children to have hope and heal.  And in her 60's, she started working out with a personal trainer, boxing and lifting weights.  No matter who you were, Anne would be direct and didn't mince words, but she could make even the sourest person laugh as she felt humor was the key to life.

When she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the summer of 2018, no one was more surprised than Anne herself.  This is an illness that continues to defy modern medicine and take loved ones away from us too fast and too soon, but Anne decided she was going to be here as long as she possibly could and soak up every minute of her precious life on earth.  Her plan was to live as long as a hero of hers, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (who lived with pancan for over 10 years).  Anne lived for an impressive almost 4 years.

When it was time for Anne to go, she was determined to remain present and calm.  She willed herself to be awake, she refused any medications that might alter her awareness, and she never complained.  She spent her last afternoon very quietly instructing her granddaughters on a new painting technique and savored a few last incredible colorful hours full of beauty, love and hope for the future.  Later that night, Anne left this world while her daughter, Carol, held her hand and with her dear friend, T, also by her side.  She quietly and gracefully passed away on May 6 ^th , 2022, much to the dismay and heartbreak of everyone who loved her.

Anne modeled to her friends and family to live with courage and think positive thoughts.  She often told people: "Believe in yourself."  "Trust yourself."  "Get more sleep."  "Be nice to yourself."  "Listen to your gut instinct."  "Treat yourself with respect."  "Give yourself permission to relax."

Anne is survived by her daughter, Carol, (and son-in-law Reggie), and granddaughters, Madeleine and Charlotte; her son, Jim; her husband (sep) Jim; her niece, Susan De Lorenzo and grandnephew, Jack; her niece Carol Danisi and grandnieces, Cate and Alexis; and her niece, Anne Casanova (dec. May 19, 2022) and grandniece, Miranda.  She is pre-deceased by her sister, Charlsey M. De Lorenzo (dec. Aug 27, 2021).

Donations in her memory can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, Best Friends Save Them All (animal rescue) or to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

And if you like, you can think of Anne when you do a crossword or a logic puzzle, appreciate the color RED, pet a cat, or eat an orange, a "Cutie," or a bowl of spaghetti with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.  You can remember her when you admire the beauty and complexity of a flower or a hummingbird, or witness the joy of a child opening a gift on Christmas morning.  Know she is pleased if when you feel happy, you sing a silly, made-up nonsense song that rhymes and don't care about whoever might hear you.  She would also definitely encourage you to eat a piece of chocolate for her, please.

Anne's message to all and the last words she wanted to share with everyone are:

"Wherever you will go, try to leave a smile behind."