Anja O'Donnell

Anja’s father’s career as an architect took the family from Sweden to Denmark, to the United States, and back again several times. In 1970, Anja chose to remain in Marin County, California, while her family returned to Sweden. It must have been fate — that decision led her to meet Jeff O’Donnell, whom she married in 1975, and with whom she raised a beautiful family.

Anja carried two special homes in her heart — Sweden, where she was born and rooted — and ultimately, Placerville, where she built her family and lived most of her adult life. She kept an unbroken bond with Sweden and traveled back every year to spend time with family.

She is reunited in peace with her parents, Gunvor and Knud Brorup, and her brother, Viggo Brorup.

Anja, lovingly referred to as Mormor or Grandma Anja by her grandchildren, held various jobs throughout her life, but the work most precious to her was being a devoted stay-at-home mother and homemaker — present for every sports game, school activity, late night pickup, snack run, celebration, and all the ordinary days in between. She was the captain of the family softball van, filling our memories with laughter and joy! Not only was she a super mom for her own children, but she was fortunate enough to be an ever-present and dependable part of her grandchildren’s lives as well. She was loving, easy going, humorous, quiet in her strength, and deeply grounded in that unmistakable Swedish way.

Some of her previous passions included horseback riding, skiing, golfing, soaking up the beauty of the beach, and simply being with friends and family. She was known as being the life of the party in her younger years and carried on that fun, warm spirited attitude all the way to the end.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years Jeff O’Donnell, her three children: Shane, Amy, and Shelly; her grandchildren: Haven, Parker, Calvin, Sully, and Simon; and her sister Eva Ehrensvärd. She is also missed by many other beloved family members and friends; nieces that seemed more like daughters and friends that felt more like sisters.

To know Anja was to love her. She just had that way about her that immediately made you feel comfortable and at home. Her family honors her as someone who was graciously kind, who held everyone together, loved her friends and family without abandon, and showed her care through a constant comforting presence.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, December 7 at 2:00pm at Cold Springs Golf and Country Club, 6500 Clubhouse Dr. Placerville, CA 95667

She will be missed beyond measure and remembered with gratitude for the good laughs and steady, true love she gave all of us.