As a young teenager this adventurous beauty queen lost both parents. She was ready to conquer the world. Arriving in San Francisco by car from Washington, DC she met a young doctor. Instead of returning home where she had been accepted to Sophia Nursing School, she decided to stay on and within months they were happily married. Her master’s degree in nursing had to wait until her first daughter was born.
40 years later she has been a widow for 10 years and recently retired after a distinguished career as public health nurse at SF Public Health Department and Institute of Aging. She is also a proud grandmother and is completing her third term on the Board of SWEA where is serving her second year as Board President. After spearheading a most successful Christmas Bazaar with more than 2,700 tickets sold we propose she deserves a nomination to be crowned as the 2025 SWEA Queen!
Here is her remarkable story!
Where were you born? Tell us about your family in Sweden.
Born in Stockholm. My family of origin was laid to rest in Ösmo church close to Nynäshamn archipelago 1 hours’ drive south of Stockholm which initially was built in the 12th century and when visiting Sweden, I visit the grave site and the church of course. I was raised together with my four-year older brother by my mom and dad in a big house in the countryside.
My mother passed away when I was twelve years old; my dad passed away seven years later which of course dramatically changed my life. My brother is also deceased (2010). I was admitted to a nursing school as a Sofia sister, but I deferred It for a year and that’s the short way to explain how I ended up here in San Francisco where I met my now late husband. After I had my daughter in 1986, I decided to go back to nursing school, which was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. To care for people in need provides meaning as you all know. My late husband was a doctor and now my son is a nurse like I am.
What was you first job in Sweden?
After graduating from high school, I worked at what I referred to as “the warm huts” in Kungsträdgården, Restaurant Victoria and Café Opera, the few places with an active nightlife in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. I was able to save money, which afforded me trips around the world and that is how I eventually ended up here.
Tell us more about your move to San Francisco? Tell us about your family here.
Knowing some people in California, a girlfriend and I drove across the country to San Francisco from Washington DC. My late husband met us right by Coit Tower as his best friend had arranged for us to stay the night with him. I would say that it constituted the beginning of my California life. We were married for 30 years, had two children and now I also have two grandchildren with the third on his way. I’ve been a widow for ten years and will luckily say that our remaining family is close. Besides, I have a companion who happens to be my next-door neighbor; we have a secret door in the back for easy access.
How did you get involved in Public Health? What is the Institute on Aging? What is your role?
My nursing career was within social services since I also hold a master’s degree in geriatric counseling. I worked for the Institute on Aging with frail elders on MediCal and eventually transferred to the Department of Aging, Adult Protective Services which worked with frail elders and disabled adults in crisis. I worked closely with Police and SFFD as I was called out in emergency situations. Retired from the City and County of San Francisco in 2017, I worked up until May last year for the Institute on Aging part time. The diversity of the population here in San Francisco made my job very interesting and emotionally alive.
When did you first join SWEA and when did you join the Board? Congratulations to the successful Christmas Bazaar at St Mary’s Cathedral! What a fabulous event under your leadership!
I joined SWEA in 2004 (I think) when my daughter was SWEAs Lucia. Lisa Wiborg pointed out how unsuitable it looked that the mother of the Lucia was not a SWEA member. As a result, I joined SWEA and have never looked back. Eventually, Ann Faut grabbed me, praising how fun it is to be a board member which started my active involvement in SWEA. Now it is the third time I’m part of the board and as I have said several times, the satisfaction of being a SWEA is a function of one’s involvement. The sense of team spirit and accomplishment when an event is completed is immense. At the last two Christmas fairs I have also served as a group leader for the entrance together with Kajsa Murphy and in the past, I was also part of the Christmas Fair Committee. Although the SWEA board has a decisive say in how Christmas Fair is planned and operated; it is really the committee that is planning it all.
What are your plans for this year?
SWEA San Francisco had its first board meeting on January 12th, right after serving church coffee and started to plan events for the coming year. In January, we have a Swedish movie, Lutfisk luncheon and SWEA Professional. Lots of planning will also be done for the annual meeting on February 22nd, where a report of the past year’s activities, budget, donations, and scholarships will be shared with the members. The proceeds from the Christmas fair are the basis of what SWEA San Francisco donates. It is SWEAs mission to donate to organizations that promote Swedish culture and language, and we typically give to the Swedish schools, the Swedish church, and musical groups, as examples. The Silversked will be given to well deserving SWEA who has been helping out despite part of the board. Hiking, museum visits, and other get togethers all around the bay happen monthly. An appreciated feature of this big meeting is that we serve “semlor”.
San Francisco Bay is a large area with lots of traffic which makes get togethers will everyone a challenge, which is why some activities like “tjejträffar och vandringar/hiking” often happen in each area, such as South, East, North Bay as well as the Peninsula and San Francisco.
What can we do together for the different age groups at Hyde and in Silicon Valley where we had some 120 people attending our Christmas Service with Lucia Procession from The Swedish School in Silicon Valley. There is a fantastic potential for synergy between SWEA, SACC and Church of Sweden both in Los Altos and on Hyde Street in the city.
We in SWEA tend to do a few big events every year, such as aa formal dinner and of course the Christmas Fair with plenty of advance notice to allow planning. It is a challenge to gather everyone which is why we focus on a few events where we hope to see members from all over San Francisco Bay. I am sure the same goes for the church in Los Atos and the Swedish church in San Francisco that the heavy traffic presents an obstacle and that many members prefer to stay local. Like SWEA, the focus may be a few big events every year. SACC and the Scandinavian School were helping at the Christmas Fair selling hot dogs, waffles, and open sandwiches. All the children’s activities were coordinated by the Scandinavian School. This is an example of great cooperation between the various Swedish organizations.
Thanks for sharing your insights. Let’s continue the dialogue!