Obituary

Lori Meryl Anderson, 71, of Freehold, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 6th. She was born on July 8th, 1954, in Manhattan, New York.

The only child of Albert and Reba Frisch, Lori grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, where she built the foundation of warmth, compassion, and vibrant spirit that would define her life. She attended Forest Hills High School before going on to earn her nursing degree from Boston University.

With a true passion for helping others, Lori dedicated over 40 years of her life to a meaningful career in nursing, serving in a wide range of roles and specialties. Her work reflected who she was at her core — loving, caring, kind, and deeply present for those around her.

Above all else, Lori’s greatest joy was her friends and family. Her friends, her children, and her grandchildren were her life. She is survived by her husband, Bruce Rubenstein; her beloved sons, Brett Anderson, Drew Anderson, and Jared Anderson; her stepdaughter, Julie Thorne and her husband Peter Thorne; daughter-in-law Virginia Lu Anderson; and her cherished grandchildren, Sophie Thorne, Ezra Anderson, and Ellie Anderson.

Lori was known for her compassion, warmth, and magnetic personality. She made friends wherever she went, leaving a lasting impression with her love and genuine interest in others. She had a special way of connecting — whether through a conversation, a smile, or her signature habit of stopping to admire every baby she passed, always asking, “now who’s this?”

Lori was also an artist at heart. She loved painting and decorating, famously transforming bedrooms with her gift for splatter paint and bold 90s art deco designs. She was an avid reader who never passed up a good book, especially a beach read on a beach vacation. She enjoyed true crime documentaries, whodunnits, window shopping, and all the small pleasures that made life colorful.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lori’s name to New Hope Facilities New Jersey.

“You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face

And show the world all the love in your heart.”

— Carole King