Anita Becker

Anita’s unique talent was bringing people into her circle where you felt her love and kindness and you couldn’t help but love her back.  That was true for both her family and friends and for people she met in daily life.   Anita Keroes Becker passed away Sunday 1/16/22 from heart failure.  

She was born in DC on 4/5/1930 to Meyer and Celia Keroes, both true natives of DC.  She survived her beloved sister Edith Horowitz, Edith’s husband Stanley and their son Larry Horowitz as well as the love of her life Bud Engleberg and his daughter, Judith Kenyon. She is survived by her children, Marlene Freedman, Myra and  Normand Collard, Cecile Becker, Cary and Suzy Engleberg, Bob Kenyon and 10 grandchildren. Anita will also be greatly mourned by Edith’s children, Howie and Judy Horowitz, Marty and Rosanne Horowitz, Debbie Horowitz and their children and grandchildren.  

Anita grew up in DC, where her first circle of friends were the Sorrell sorority;  she met with these friends monthly throughout her life. Anita got her degree in education and taught first grade and preschool as her first career. She raised her children in Silver Spring, MD where she was president of everything, the PTA, the 100 Club and the Sisterhood at Shaare Tefila.  For the last 44 years she lived in Bethesda where she met Bud and since has maintained wonderful friendships with many in her building. 

At age 47, Anita decided she wanted a new career and narrowed her options to interior designer, caterer or travel agent.  Anita was already known to be an incredible interior designer and an amazing hostess by anyone who visited her at Cresthaven Drive or Westlake Terrace.  She chose travel instead though knowing she could utilize her organizational and social skills and get travel benefits.  As a travel agent and cruise specialist Anita travelled the world, first with Bud then with her daughters.  Anita loved her work at McCabe World Travel in McLean, Virginia and met her goal of never quitting, she was even working the evening we lost her.   

Anita was the original Energizer bunny.  Even as she grew older, Anita had to be busy every day; there was always an errand to run or a project to complete.  Everyone she met believed she was younger than she was.  How could someone her age have that much energy?  Every day was a dress up day for Anita.  She always looked totally put together, from her hairstyle to her famous rainbow glasses, to the gorgeous jewelry to the coordinated outfit and shoes.  At one point, she proudly told us she had in her closet a different outfit for every day of the year.  During COVID, she dressed up every day even if she wasn’t leaving the apartment. 

Anita visited over 100 countries on all 7 continents including  Antarctica and China in the seventies when it first opened.  She stopped counting the number of cruise ships she’d been on when she reached 100.   Anita had many hobbies in addition to travel.  She played mah jongg with passion and much financial success – for seventy years.  Anita spent many hours alternating between her needlepointing and her knitting.   She created beautiful needlepoint art and pillows and also made animals, winning a ribbon for her needlepoint cat at the Woodlawn Needlework exhibition.  Anita knitted afghans and sweaters for her children and grandchildren, even knitting baby blankets for the great grandchildren yet to be born.   Anita will always be remembered for her baking and her brisket.  COVID restrictions were tough on such a busy person, so  she baked regularly, delivering deliciousness to her neighbors and many others in the community.   She was also incredibly lucky, winning raffles, games and at casinos.  We think it was the universe rewarding a special person.  

Yes, Anita had many hobbies and loved travel, but the most important thing in her life was the people she loved.  She was the matriarch of three families and loved each person in each family fiercely and fully.  She never missed a birth, bar/bat mitzvah, graduation or holiday but also made sure to just visit with everyone regularly.   Anita was the connection between all of us, sharing everyone’s big and little news.  We will need to work to stay connected and up to date with each other’s stories now that she can’t be our reporter.   Anita extended that same love and kindness to each of her family of friends, making sure she stayed in touch and hosting gatherings.  

We are all feeling the empty space where Anita used to be yet we are all so privileged to have had her in our lives.