Mary M. Lindjord

Mary Michael Lindjord, beloved wife, mother and Nana peacefully passed away November 23rd. Mary was born in Tacoma November 7th, 1924 to Theone and Mike Mallos who had immigrated to the United States from Kandyla, Greece. Mary was the middle child of five, having two older sisters and two younger brothers. Mary’s deep blue eyes and fair skin stood out in a family of olive skinned, brown- eyed parents and siblings.

When she was young, the family moved to a home near Green Lake in Seattle that had a large walnut tree in the backyard. That tree became Mary’s tree and she would climb it and perch herself on a large branch, listening to birds, shaking walnuts to the ground and watching the world go by. For the rest of her life she loved walnuts, including them in every food that she could.

A natural athlete, Mary loved all sports. A self described tomboy, she loved baseball and once injured herself catching a line drive barehanded. Years later, she had surgery to repair the damage. She was a competent tennis player and roller skater but excelled at swimming, gliding through the water like a swan. And she could sing, adding her beautiful alto voice to the harmonies of her church choir.

In 1941, she and her best friend Jeannie (Meyers) Barnum were leaving the skating rink when they met a group of friends and Jeannie introduced her to a tall blonde man. As she later said, “that was the beginning of my love affair with Harald Lindjord, the best thing that ever happened to me in my life.” This love affair was to endure 68 ½ years and has not ended with her passing.

She and Harald became engaged when she was but 18 and still in high school and were married on April 24th 1943. Two months later Harald went off to fight in World War II, returning 26 months later after being wounded in battle in Italy. It wasn’t long before they began raising a family which ultimately numbered three children. They settled in the Shoreline area in a house which Harald built, where they lived until moving to Edmonds in 1977.

Devoted to her husband and family, she was an amazing mother, grandmother, great grandmother and mother-in-law. She once wrote that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were the joy of her life. And yet, she always found time for others outside her family, sharing her time and love with the many who were drawn to her.

In 1951 Mary and Harald joined Ronald United Church and have remained active members ever since. Mary sang in the church choir for twenty years and led a bible study class for 24 years.

A woman of strong belief in God, Mary gave much to others in countless ways. Whether reading to the blind or visiting the infirmed, to witnessing her faith to others, she lived her life through Jesus Christ and inspired countless others to do the same. Her prayers strengthened many and her faith strengthened her through sickness and sorrow.

On her passing, her lifelong friend Jeannie Barnum wrote to the family and so perfectly characterized Mary’s life. She said,

“Our beloved and beautiful Mary/Trish was the constant gleaming star who lit up our lives and the lives of everyone who was ever fortunate enough to cross her bright and shining path and to have had the blessed experience of her enduring warmth and caring, thoughtful deeds of true concern and inspiration, and profound loyalty. To know her was to love her for her goodness, her intense appreciation of everyday life, her family, her deep faith, her friends, and the sights and sounds and scents of Nature. Our loss is Heaven's Gain. . .We shall never, never forget her, and as she begins her spiritual journey, may she never, never forget us. . .”

Mary is survived by her beloved husband Harald, daughter Theone (Bruce) Holms of Woodinville, son Stephen (Barbara) Lindjord of Woodinville. Grandchildren are Stephanie Dupuis, Lisa (Brent) McCoy, Marisa (Ben) Young, Tegan (David) Adams, Jackie (Greg) Young and Sharman (Paulo) Sosa. Her great grandchildren are Dylan, Sawyer and Sloane McCoy, Grace Young, Sebastian and Maximiliano Sosa. Mary was preceded in death by her eldest son Norman, her sister Sophia and brother Chris.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be sent to Ronald United Methodist Church, 17839 Aurora Avenue North, Shoreline, WA 98133.