Muriel Saunders

September 24, 1923 – March 5, 2012

Muriel Helen Saunders died on March 5, 2012, of complications from Alzheimer's Disease in Grand Junction, Colorado. She was 88 years old. Muriel was an identical twin born to Arvid (Harvey) Reynold Hagstrom and Lena Gertrude Sheehan Hagstrom in Whitman, Massachusetts on September 24, 1923. She and her twin, Marilyn, were mirror twins, which means one twin is right handed and the other left handed. Muriel was the left-handed twin. She graduated from Whitman High School in June 1941. Following the outbreak of WWII she and her twin sister took civil service exams and moved to Washington D.C. where Muriel worked as a secretary for the Pentagon. After WWII, Muriel worked as a secretary for the US Army in Germany. At one point during her career she worked in the same building where the Nuremburg trials were held. Sometimes she would sit in on the trials during her coffee or lunch breaks. She met her husband of 57 years, Richard "Dick" Paul Saunders, in Munich Germany where he was serving as an Army doctor for the American Occupation Troops. They were married on February 24, 1951. Returning to the US in 1952, they lived in Denver and Durango before settling in Grand Junction in 1958 with their two children, Anne and Paul. Muriel was a devoted wife and mother. She served as a room mother and PTA officer at her children's elementary school. She volunteered in St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary. She never missed one of her children's games, plays or recitals. Muriel was a natural athlete and loved to golf, bike, ski, and play tennis. She taught herself to play the piano and speak Spanish. She will be remembered by her children as a gracious, kind, and loving person - a truly great lady. Muriel is survived by her two children, Anne P. Saunders of Grand Junction, and Paul J. Saunders II of San Francisco; a sister, Joyce M. Hagstrom Lake (Brian) of Bradenton, Florida, and a brother, Donald E. Hagstrom (Linnea) of Clinton, Connecticut. She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard P. Saunders; her parents, her sisters, Marie L. Hagstrom, and Marilyn M. Ackerman, and her brother, Harvey Hagstrom. No services are planned at this time. Donations may be made to Mesa County Libraries, Children Center, 530 Grand Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81501 or the Alzheimer's Association , 2232 N 7th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501. Muriel's family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to the nurses, caregivers, and staff at Aspen Ridge Alzheimer's Care for their loving and compassionate care of Muriel over the past seven years. You were terrific and we are forever grateful to you.

Published in The Daily Sentinel on March 8, 2012