Ms. Maria Theresa Swenson

Maria was born in Slovakia and in 1937 left with her mother, Cecilia, sister Anna, and brothers, Joey and Willy to find a better life in New York City. Maria’s father, Joseph, had arrived there several years earlier to work in the building trades in order to bring the family over. It was not easy for the family, and both Maria’s parents worked multiple jobs leading long working hours. This left Maria with the ability to be independent at a very early age. She survived through shear grit and determination and managed to thrive despite many obstacles. She was helped by the Children’s Aid Society which provided emotional support and safe experiences in nature. Maria also spent time in the New Jersey countryside with her Aunt and Uncle helping at their grocery store. Maria was treated like a daughter by Evyonne, a beauty shop owner, where she learned many beauty tips.

In her teens, Maria attended Central Commercial High, a vocational high school in NYC, where she majored in secretarial studies. The program comprised of classes in the morning, and corporate office experience for the remainder of the day. During this time, Maria met Arne Swenson (now deceased) and they married the year after her graduation in 1949. Maria excelled in her vocation and progressed to become a corporate executive secretary. With the onset of the Korean War, Maria’s husband, Arne, enlisted in the Army and was transferred to Heidelberg during post WWII Germany. Maria joined him, and then secured a job as executive assistant to a department head at the US Army European Headquarters. This was a challenging but rewarding experience for the couple, and Maria learned how to navigate the sometimes-hostile anti-American environment as well as the recovering German economy.

When Maria and Arne left Germany, they moved to Denver where Arne attended the University of Denver, and Maria continued to work as an executive assistant. After Arne graduated the couple followed his career path to Chicago, Nebraska and locations in New Jersey. During this time, they had two daughters, Linnea and Ingrid. Maria was a devoted mother and homemaker and applied her sense of style and organizational skills to manage the family’s relocations and home renovations. She engaged in golf and tennis, bird watching, volunteering for ladies’ auxiliaries, and found joy in entertaining friends and family with delicious Czech and Hungarian cooking.

Then, in her early 50s, Maria begin a new life chapter, pulling up roots and driving cross country with her youngest daughter, Ingrid. They settled in Marin County, California, to join her extended family, the Novys, and create a new home. She enrolled her younger daughter in the Drake High School, and then, after living first in San Anselmo, and then in Fairfax, began a new job with a government agency. With family and friends she enjoyed the beauty of Marin, and was a wonderful hostess for new and longtime friends. She traveled back to Europe with a close friend, where she utilized the experience and skills she gained living in Germany as well as her multi-lingual skills. Maria retired in 1996 and faced a major, but successful, back surgery. As part of her physical therapy program, she took up water walking at the YMCA where she cultivated many new friends. In 2012 Maria moved to Drake Terrace, a senior community in San Rafael, still going to the “Y” and visiting with extended family and friends. She loved the California landscape, its birdlife and scenic views and traveling with her daughter, Ingrid, to Europe, as well as throughout California including time in San Francisco at her city “get a way” – her daughter’s apartment on Nob Hill!

Maria’s joie de vivre was felt by all who knew her. She lived each moment fully and her wisdom was sought out by close family and friends. She demonstrated the art of aging gracefully and honestly, and will be dearly missed. Maria leaves behind two daughters, Ingrid Swenson, San Francisco, and Linnea Murakami and son-in-law, Gary Murakami, New Jersey, many nieces and nephews, as well as her extended family, all of whom were close to her heart. A short private memorial service will be held at the San Francisco Columbarium on January 12, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Maria’s name to Children’s Aid or the San Francisco Marin Food Bank.