Muriel Mae Jorgensen

Muriel went home to be with the Lord on November 23 2025 she was 105. She was born in St Paul Minnesota on June 17, 1920 to parents Roy and Stella Fillmore. She lived her final years at the Elmwood Care Center of Rowntree Gardens. Muriel was a longstanding member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Garden Grove CA. Muriel was active in her church, helping in the office and doing other volunteer work as well as financially supporting the child care center.

Muriel was preceded in death by her husband Harvey Jorgensen. Her sister Audrey Lois Fillmore passed away in the polio epidemic as an infant. Her brother Warren Roy Fillmore passed away from cancer at the age of 52, and her nephew Bruce (Charlie) Fillmore. She is survived by her nieces and nephew, Rodney Fillmore spouse Cindy, Lois Fillmore and, Carol Schlenz spouse Reece.

Muriel’s parents divorced when she was 18 and it fell to her to help support the family. Here is one of the many stories she liked to tell. Her uncle held the mortgage on their home and there was going to be a balloon payment they would not be able to make. In those days’ women, especially young women did not borrow money from the bank. Undeterred from convention Muriel went to the local bank and asked to speak to a banker. When she told him she wanted a mortgage on the house she was nearly laughed out the door. She persisted and when the banker saw the opportunity to get the house after she would almost certainly default on the loan, he gave her the money. Every week when she got paid, she walked to the bank and made the payments, on time. The bank never got their house!

Muriel lived in St Paul Minnesota where she met her husband, Harvey. They were married for 48 years. Soon after they moved to Garden Grove California. They purchased their first and only home in 1955. Muriel and Harvey enjoyed their life together and traveled extensively. Harvey always had his 8mm video camera and a still camera and they filled photo albums with pictures of their travels. Harvey told Muriel early in their marriage that women always outlive men so he wanted her to own the checkbook so she new how to handle money when he was gone. She excelled at this and one day surprised him with the announcement she wanted to go to Pasadena. When Harvey asked why, she opened up an envelope and said I have saved enough money to pay off the mortgage so let’s get going.

After Harvey’s death, Muriel sold the house in Garden Grove and moved to what was then called Quaker Gardens. She lived a very independent life, taking advantages of the services she needed. She made many friends and still did some traveling with them. As her health declined, she moved from an off-site duplex to an apartment and eventually to the Elmwood Care Center. Despite being confined to a bed she remained cheerful and always pleasant to the staff and nurses.

Visitation and funeral services will be held Thursday Dec 4 at 2PM at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 12301 Magnolia Street. Garden Grove California. A coffee reception will follow the service. The family asks that memorials be directed to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Muriel is survived by her nephew, Rodney Fillmore (Cindy), and her nieces, Lois Fillmore and Carol Schlenz (Reece).

Muriel is preceded in passing by her husband, Harvey Jorgensen; her parents, Stella and Roy Fillmore; her siblings, Audrey and Warren Fillmore; and her nephew, Charlie Fillmore (Bruce).