Neighbor Leigh brings Bernalwood heartbreaking news about Neighbor Thea Anderson, age 24, who died last month after a collision in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Neighbor Thea had been working as volunteer at a New Zealand school for children with intellectual disabilities.
Neighbor Leigh says:
I’m emailing on behalf of dear friends of mine, Consuelo and Thor Anderson, who are fellow Bernalites. They wanted to share the news of their daughter death a few weeks ago. Thea Faust Anderson died the day after her 24th birthday in a car crash in New Zealand, where she had been living and working.
Thea and her older sister Madeleine were born and raised in Bernal Heights, spending countless hours at the Bernal branch library, exploring the hill, and gaining newfound independence walking to Holly Park on their own. Consuelo remembers trick or treating with them back when there was only one cafe on Cortland.
As a fellow parent raising kids here in Bernal, I can imagine all the memories, milestones, and experiences Consuelo and Thor shared with Thea as she blossomed from her Bernal roots into an adventurous, vibrant and deeply caring young woman.
Here is a link to a beautiful obituary for her in last Sunday’s Chronicle.
There will be a celebration of Thea’s life at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco, on Saturday, July 23rd at noon. Gifts in memory of Thea may be sent to the Thea Faust Anderson Fund for Dance, Mills College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, California, 94613, or online.
Please join Bernalwood in extending our deepest condolences to Neighbors Consuelo, Thor, and Madeleine, on behalf of our Bernal community.
PHOTO: Top, Thea Faust Anderson. Below, Thea Anderson at Phia Beach, NZ, via The Dominion Post.
Bernalwood 
As a NZ born person and mother/g’mother to Bernal Heights residents, I
extend my deepest sympathy.
I’m ‘ve r y sorry for your lose. She sounds like a wonderful person. My deepest condolences.
Please know you will see her again.
sending love and healing to Consuelo, Thor, and Maddie.
My deepest condolences to Thea’s family & all those who loved her. It is so clear that she was a special person. And while it’s a bit of a cliché, I see a young woman who lived her life to the fullest. She packed more into those 24 years than many do in a lifetime. That her life experiences and personality culminated in helping those with intellectual disabilities through dance is truly impressive.
This is about as bad as it gets. My heart goes out to Thor & Consuelo, I cant imagine your pain.