Obituary Valerie Delores Anderson ("Blossom")  Valerie Delores Anderson (née Simons), affectionately and fittingly known as "Blossom", 82, of Port St. Lucie, Florida slept away peacefully at home with family by her side on the morning of Sunday, February 23, 2020.

Blossom was born on January 28, 1938, in Kingston, Jamaica, to parents Albert and Ruthlyn Verona Simons. Blossom grew up with her parents, along with her late brother, Hopeton Kingsley Simons; her beloved sister, Yvonne Clare Tracey; and a cousin, whom she loved like a sister, Cynthia Verona Taylor. Blossom married the love of her life, Hector Anderson, in 1959 in Kingston, Jamaica. Their marriage union held strong for 61 years and helped produce 5 children, 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and 2 more great-grandchildren currently on the way!

Blossom completed her education in Jamaica and went on to attend a technical school where she studied business-related subjects. Blossom loved learning new skills, she truly enjoyed and mastered the arts of interior decorating, floral arranging, cake decorating, cooking, sewing, crocheting, and many other hobbies of her liking. Having 5 children of her own, baking cakes for our birthdays and special occasions quickly turned into a love for cake decorating. The most complicated cake design was a welcome challenge to Blossom. She made cakes that resembled dolls and cartoon characters, and wedding cakes that were fit for the royal family. There were ones boasting towering heights and tasting as delicious as they smelled in the neighborhood! She took great pride in creating many designer cakes too, and she carefully crafted them using her gifted talent in the intricate arts of both cake decorating and fresh flower arrangement. We will sorely miss so many things about Mom, not to mention her amazing cooking! Oh my goodness, we can all recall the many parties, with her endless dishes of delicious food. The smell of a cornmeal pudding, a sweet potato pudding, a banana bread, or her Jamaican style fruit cake baking in the oven would fill the air for miles! The rum and wine-basted rum cake Mom made was a favorite of countless individuals in and out of the United States, the Caribbean and Canada. One could not wait to taste and see her delicious treats!

It would be remiss to not mention that Blossom had a beautiful reputation of generously supporting her family, friends, and staff members in preparing their very own personal wedding cakes, floral arrangements, and more! Blossom's warm-baked desserts were savored by all those around her. Like a shark anticipating its prey, the begging and pleading to cut a slice of her cake or pudding could be heard followed by a cute little chuckle or a quick and humorous response from Blossom. Oh, how she just loved to tempt us with her delicious baked goods and cooking!

She was an avid gardener and a passionate rose and orchid lover, and grower. She had a green thumb that was nothing short of magical! Her gorgeous fruit, produce, and flower Obituary Valerie Delores Anderson ("Blossom") 2 farm in St. Mary, Jamaica was her paradise where she spent most of her spare time working the farm with a sincere love of nature. Blossom also loved to travel! Oh, did she love a long road trip, a scenic boat cruise, or a plane or train ride! At her leisurely pace, she now had the time and opportunity to tell us so many wonderful stories of her childhood days and memories from the past. And if we so happened to lose our way along the journey, she only grew more engrossed and intrigued with the new adventure! Blossom had a deep passion for the sea, and she loved the sport of fishing.

She had so many drama packed fishing escapades to share, you would have to talk to her fisherman accomplices to recapture those barrels of laughs! She had such a happy and keen sense of humor. A single joke would have Mom laughing hysterically for months into the future! Her favorite comedians on television, Steve Harvey and Mr. Bean, would have her laughing so hard she would literally slide off the chair! Mom loved the sound of music in the air! Her best moments were spent right at home sitting back in her rocking chair with all the family enjoying live karaoke. Her favorite tunes and artists varied from country western to reggae music. Songs by artists like Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Susan Boyle, and Lucky Dube were always on her mind and welcomed in her world! She had a powerful listening ear.

One more thing that can't be left unsaid, Blossom loved to go shopping! Wow - how she loved a good bargain, but she also valued the unique, one of a kind, extraordinary fine furnishings of products from around the world. With regard to Blossom's passions, ingenuity, creativity and taking little to nothing and turning it into something incredibly awesome, one would have to just stand back in amazement and watch a motivated, organized Blossom, almost singlehandedly, take on a monumental task and surpass everyone's expectations, every time - like the movement of a Rolex watch! Truly, Blossom was the genius behind many, and a quiet partner alongside many. She always excelled and triumphed in a quiet unassuming way.

With a strong will and a firm grip on her decisions, Blossom never gave up when she had a vision in mind. Blossom's enthusiasm about anything she did often encouraged and enticed us to join in her projects and passions. Those who loved, supported, and befriended Blossom often learned much by her side and henceforth continued to carry on her passions with an abundance of enthusiasm. Her gentle way and teaching spirit was no doubt contagious! Blossom was a kind, loyal, hardworking, and trustworthy person. There was no job too low or too hard for her to take on and conquer, if she chose to. What seemed so complicated and difficult to us was so easy to her. She was always determined to complete a task at Obituary Valerie Delores Anderson ("Blossom") 3 hand, no matter how large it was. She had a calm demeanor that was fully loaded with a magnificent, quiet strength. And please don't ever underestimate her with a gun in her right hand she will hit the bullseye every time, and with the closest precision! That was another one of her favorite hobbies other than going to the dog track of course. All dogs were Mom's best friends.

Mom was in every sense a truly virtuous woman whose beauty was extraordinary, both inside and out. She was a woman of her word, and she stood by us all. Her loving kindness and willingness to help the less fortunate, or those just starting out in life, or a friend or family member in need, was apparent in the kind support and direction she would display.

Blossom is predeceased by her loving mother, Ruthlyn Verona Simons, and her father, Albert Simons; her brother, Hopeton Simons (Teddy), and her cousin who was like a sister to her, Cynthia Taylor (Dearest). Blossom is survived by her Husband, Hector; Children: Opal Scott (George, Opal's Husband), Tina DaCosta, Hector Anderson, Jr. (Jacqueline, Hector's Wife), Phillippa Gordon (Marlon, Phillippa's Husband), and Adrian Anderson; her Sister, Yvonne Clare Tracey; Grandchildren: Natasha McGann (Kimani, Natasha's Husband), Tracey Ann DaCosta, Sharayne DaCosta, Krishna Gordon, Melissa Gordon, Joshua Gordon, Christopher Anderson, and Sarah Anderson; Great-Grandchildren: Kaylee McGann, Kayleb McGann, and Valerie Gordon; numerous Nieces, Nephews, and a host of wonderful family members, close loved ones, friends and neighbors.

I'm sure many of you here today have fond memories of Blossom that made her very special to you. You see, the secret is out, she had this amazing gift from God, she had the remarkable ability to always make each and every one of us feel extra special to her! So when you were in her company, it felt as though you were her favorite, and the only person in the world who was the most special to her! That was her magic moving in action once again, and no one could ever understand just how she did it. She was a rare found treasure, a precious gem to all whom she met. She truly loved life and so she fought valiantly every day to remain here on Earth to be with us just a little while longer. Mom, thank you for your life lessons, your gentle spirit, your genuine kindness, your never ending support, and your endless love. We will miss you every moment of every passing day!

You truly have gone from our lives way too soon. To the countless well-wishers, we the family want to thank you for your extraordinary support, caring/heartfelt communications, visits from afar, and your infinite kindness during this very difficult time. We have always known the greatness of this family, and of our friends and neighbors that we've grown to know and love throughout the years. It's times like these that we realize how much more extraordinary our support is and how lucky we are to have you in our lives. Thank you all so much for everything!

Obituary Valerie Delores Anderson ("Blossom") 4 Finally, we want to end with saying this from our hearts to yours, Blossom was our truly cherished Mother, our amazing hero, and a friend to us all, a leading lady of great style, poise and grace, an icon for so many, and a model for all to emulate. She was a class act that will never be forgotten, and can never be replaced. ~ The Family