Gittan was one of a kind and a force of nature!

Gittan was one of a kind and a force of nature! A jingle from the 60s comes to mind…. She ‘grabbed the gusto’ of life. She knew how to live! Fully! With her entire being! What a talent. Every single time I met Gittan she was willing and fully engaged. I first met Gittan as a child, when I visited Sweden for the first time, the summer of 1968, as an eight year old child. She was beautiful and curious to learn and listen and willing. Gittan was indefatigable, with a childlike enthusiasm and love to go go go! Nothing would stop her. She loved life! Gittan was an exemplary representative of life itself! When she visited my family the following year in California, it was 1969, and she taught me how to shave my legs. That visit also prompted a trip to Disneyland and a live Elvis show in Las Vegas. Alas, I was too young to see Elvis, but Gittan painted an unforgettable picture of Elvis’s white leather fringed onesie! Lucky timing and a vicarious thrill for me. How Gittan loved Elvis! Gittan would become an expert on all things American, eventually visiting the US countless times. She had boundless love for family visits and often spoke lovingly of her children and grandchildren. She was also a heartless savage ruthless card shark !!! and became Queen of our favorite card game, Oh, Hell! No stone went unturned. She and Ragnar eventually toured the USA coast to coast— Route 66 and beyond. Everywhere from the desert southwest in Arizona to the Washington Monument to the Lion King on Broadway in New York. Gittan shone more brightly than Times Square! Even a painful fall and several broken ribs could not break her spirit. She hummed through the pain. What’s more, she baked delicious yummies. The memory of her mandelscorpa and apple cake with Swedish flags evokes tears of joy and longing remembering for me. Gittan had a huge heart. She was also creative with the scissors, thoughtfully crafting lovely handmade cards. Is there anything Gittan couldn’t do? Rest in peace!

Till min mamma

'Mor lilla mor, vem är väl som du? Ingen i hela världen.' Denna vers skrev jag på kort på mors dag till dig när jag var liten, och som du sparade i många år. Jag saknar dig mamma. Vila i frid.