Margit Sjoberg

Margit was born in Norrköping, Sweden on July 1st 1918.

She was the daughter of a prominent local business man, Consul Ivan Sjöberg and his wife Inez. Margit had 3 sisters including her twin sister Vera. Margit was the last surviving sister.

Margit first studied and worked in Sweden and then emigrated to the USA in the late 1940s. She spent virtually all her working life in New York with the Rockefeller Foundation. As was common in New York due to the high cost of living, she shared her apartment with her long time friend and colleague Grace Klotz.

Margit retired already in her fifties and moved to Daytona Beach, Florida where she bought a house. A few years later, her close friend Grace retired and bought a house next door. Margit loved her life in Florida and made many friends.

Margit only visited Sweden infrequently and even less so since her mother died.

However she kept in close contact with her very big family in Sweden, consisting of sisters, cousins (there were 50 of them), nieces, nephew and many more.

She attended the weddings in England and France of our daughters, who are the granddaughters of her sister Harriet. She also celebrated Christmas at our home in England with our big family including our 9 grandchildren. She absolutely loved that Christmas Celebration and was dearly appreciated by old and young.

Margit adored animals and normally had a bird and a dog until a few years ago. She also loved other people’s dogs including ours.

Margit was fortunate to be healthy throughout her life. She was always fit and very agile, having been a gymnast in her youth. Her healthy living naturally contributed to this. She very seldom visited a hospital or a doctor. She drove a car until a few years ago.

Margit has for many years been looked after by her good friend Lydia Janssen on a daily basis. As Margit stopped driving and needed more help at home, Lydia was very kind to move in to Margit’s house and look after her full time. Margit was extremely appreciative of all the support and friendship that Lydia gave her and so is the whole family.

Margit had a wonderful personality. She was always in a good mood, laughed extremely easily and had a great sense of humour. Whether you visited her or on the phone, she was always a pleasure to talk to. She loved hearing about the whole family and was always laughing.

As she approached her 100 years (in 2018), she had lost almost all her friends and she felt the time was right to die as she had had a very good life. She was not ill before her stroke which she had last week and has now died peacefully at home. She will be greatly missed by the younger generation of her big Swedish family with whom she kept in regular contact. She will also be greatly missed by her younger American friends and in particular by Lydia who meant so much to her in her final years.

The family has planned a private Memorial Service and asked that in lieu of flowers a donation be made in Margit Sjober’s name to your local Hospice agency or Animal Shelter.

Margit Sjoberg's beautiful obituary was written by her nephew, Egon von Greyerz.