Deacon Carl Anderson, devoted to St. Edward parish, dies at 78

Deacon Carl Anderson, who was so devoted to his parish that his daughter called it his second home, died Oct. 8 following a stroke. He was 78.

A memorial Mass for Deacon Anderson is scheduled for Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. at St. Edward in West Baltimore, where he was a faithful parishioner for decades and served as a permanent deacon since he was ordained to the diaconate in 1996.

Deacon Anderson, a Woodlawn resident at the time of his death, was born in Chesterville, Pa., and moved at a young age with his parents to Baltimore.

After a stint in the U.S. Army, he had a lengthy career as an operating-room technician, retiring from what is now University of Maryland Medical Center.

His daughter, Kyrian Anderson, 42, said Deacon Anderson’s Catholic faith and family were always at the center of his life.

“He was a great dad who was always there for his family whether it be something financial or emotional,” Kyrian Anderson said. “He was a man of great faith and was a lifelong, devoted Catholic.”

He was particularly devoted to his Poplar Grove Street parish.

“That was his second home,” Kyrian said of St. Edward. “He loved his parish. He was always assisting with something there.” 

Deacon Anderson led religious education classes as well as Bible study at St. Edward.

“He was a great teacher,” said Tammy Dodson, an office assistant at St. Edward. “I would tell people, ‘If you have a chance to take one of his classes, you have to take it.’ He had such a wealth of knowledge about the Catholic faith.

“He had a way of making you feel really, really comfortable no matter where you were in your faith,” said Dodson, who met Deacon Anderson nearly four decades ago through their shared hospital work. “When it came to his ministry, he was very serious about it.”

Spiritan Father Uju Okeahialam took over as pastor of St. Edward in 2021 when health problems were limiting Deacon Anderson’s duties, but he noted how eager the deacon was to serve.

“He was very desirous to do the work of a deacon,” Father Okeahialam said. “He loved his work as a deacon and he was committed to his work. Even when he was frail, he continued to show zeal for his ministry.”

Deacon Anderson was devoted to the parish, particularly its children. He worked in every aspect of the parish from its “soup kitchen to Sunday School.”

In addition to his daughter Kyrian, Deacon Anderson is survived by daughter Carla and sons Carl Jr. and Timothy. He was predeceased by son Kedrick and daughters Michelle and Natalie. He also is survived by 13 grandchildren and six great children. 

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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