Aina – Marie Karlsson (McCracken - Shaw) passed away on Wednesday, January 15th 2020 at 76 years of age. Services will be held Monday, January 20, 2020 at noon at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Dutch Fork Ward with burial to follow in Bush River Gardens. The family will receive friends from 11:00 until 11:45 a.m. at the church on Monday prior to the service. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, is assisting the family.
She is survived by her immediate family, and brother Nils G. Karlsson, Jr. of Riverside, California, and her sisters Helen A. Keeland of Irmo, SC, Dorian M. Anhaiser and Alice S. Rodgers of California, and a much Loved array of Nieces, Nephews and Cousins in the USA and other Countries of the World.
She was the Loving mother of: Kristina Edwards, Karl McCracken, Kathleen Orend and Kenneth Shaw, Joseph C. & Annette Shaw, and deceased son, Kevin McCracken. She was known as “MorMor and FarMor” to her grandchildren due to her Swedish heritage. Aina - Marie was a very positive, supportive, generous, and Loving person to all, and especially to her family, and grand-children: Nikole, Kasidy, & Zackary Edwards, Mackenzie & Zoe Orend, and Chloe, Natalie & Everett McCracken, whom she dearly Loved and doted on. She also especially loved animals and her numerous pets over the years, as well as her wonderful multitude of friends.
Aina - Marie was born on August 26, 1943 to immigrant parents, Nils Gunnar Karlsson Sr. of Aland, Sweden, and Alice Aina Andersen of Boston, Massachusetts, whose parents were from Finland and Denmark, and who have all since deceased. She was very proud of her Scandinavian Heritage as the first generation of her family to be born here, but was also taught to Love the freedoms of the USA. She taught her children some of the traditions of songs, and foods of the Scandinavian culture. Our favorites as kids were the Swedish children’s songs, and foods: Plattar (Swedish Pancakes), Kradakaka (Swedish Spice Cake), and use of the words: “Taksamika (Thank-you); Vasshagud (You're welcome); and Velcomen (Welcome to our Home).” Her main message to all is to always remember to: be kind, thoughtful, and caring to all others, being especially sure to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and to: “Love One Another !!! ”
She was born in Washington, DC, and as a teenager moved to Riverside, California. There she graduated from High School and College, Working hard sometimes at 2 & 3 jobs at a time. She Married twice, and raised her Family while working over the next 40-50 plus years. Most of her life she enjoyed traveling the world whenever she could, discovering the beauty of God's wonderous creations of Nature, and learning about all the other Cultures of the World. Her hobbies included prolific reading of all types, including the scriptures & especially enjoyed mysteries, as well as playing the piano, and general music enjoyment of all types. She loved Singing of all songs & in choirs, and especially loved Dancing to ALL styles, including American Ballroom & Latin styles, all Swedish Folk music, American square dancing, line dancing, and Irish clogging, and the collecting of antiques. Being physically athletic in her youth, and enjoying all sports, especially water based sports, she also learned many crafts, and actually learned to fly an airplane, as well as speak Spanish, and use ASL Sign Language.
Education was very important to her and she designed her classes and work, to take those which she felt would be the most helpful as a guide for her family life. She encouraged all of her children to graduate from college, and to always continue their education in some way. She created a fun race between herself and them, to complete her college education before her children, in order to be a good example; & especially to always remain true to our LDS church standards and principles, regardless of life’s challenges. She was an original Founder and Leader in the Natural CWP LaMaze Childbirth movement, which includes breast feeding for 2 years post births. She herself had all natural childbirths, including breast feeding, with each of her own children, and also taught many others that method. After all her children were grown, & then post divorces, much work, and retirement, she moved to Irmo, South Carolina, where she lived with her daughter Kristina's family. There she continued to work on our Family Genealogy, and attend the Temple whenever possible, until her demise.
Professionally she worked as a Registered Nurse (RN), with an AA, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing, including a PHN, CSN, & PNP, a minor in Psychology, and several Teaching Credentials for Preschool through K-12 and College levels. She worked in several fields of RN Nursing and Teaching over 40 plus years, and especially enjoyed working with children, which includes her 20 years as a School Nurse for Fontana USD in California. She always felt that her major job and greatest achievements, other than helping others, were the accomplishments and blessings she gained in raising her own children, and then in encouraging her grandchildren to succeed by: suggesting they continue goals to advance their education, develop a good work ethic, as well as establish a Christ-like life foundation as a person who has, and demonstrates, their religious values and goals at all times.
Throughout her lifetime, she has devoted time to researching our family Genealogy, and made it a point to keep in touch with all she met. I am sure many of you have received her yearly Christmas letters. She dearly loved her family and friends, & felt this was an important way to keep in touch. She loved making friends and helping others, and was most frustrated when she was no longer able to do much, due to her own health status. However, she continued to be a positive example to others, and to share her life experiences and testimony with whom-ever and whenever she was able to do so.
Although she was traditionally raised in the Lutheran Church as a youth, she converted to, and has always been a devout & active member since 1972, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (ie: LDS or Mormons). She has served in many positions of the church, and raised all of her children to be faithful members. She was currently a member of the Dutch Fork Ward in Irmo, South Carolina, and was originally from the Arlington & Canyon Crest Wards in Riverside, California.
As part of her final Christmas Letter this year, we are including this Biographical Information as a tribute to her. We will miss her greatly, but will look forward to rejoining her when it is our turn to leave this Earth, and enter Heaven. Meanwhile we know that she will continue to Love us, and watch over us, from the other side of the veil.
Thus, we will remember always her admonition to: Love One Another as Jesus loves us.
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