Mary L Tjarnberg

With great sadness, we announce the passing on April 20th, 2023 of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt Mary L. Tjarnberg at the age of 94. She was born at home on a farm in West Valley on January 22, 1929 during the depression. She was the youngest of seven children born to John and Agnes (Sonsalla) Smieja. During her childhood she enjoyed playing with the many neighborhood children forging lifelong friendships. She attended the three room Tieton View School for eight years before going to Cowiche Highland High School as class of 1948.

Mary married Roy Tjarnberg an orchardist from Cowiche, on August 27th, 1949 at St. Paul Catholic Church after meeting two years earlier at a local dance. Their first home was on an apple and pear ranch in Tieton then later in Cowiche, which they farmed for 42 years before moving to Yakima. After starting the process of adoption, Mary gave birth to daughter Janet on Roy’s birthday then the birth of Trudy followed soon after completing their family. Mom enjoyed being a farmer's wife and mother. She loved the kitchen and everything about it with a special fondness for baking. Mom especially loved making Scandinavian breads and desserts which she learned from her Swedish mother-in-law Olivia. The family usually had a choice of today's dessert or yesterday's left-over dessert.

Mom enjoyed having music playing in their home at all times while cooking, knitting, needlepoint, gardening. Some of the family traditions were an annual clam digging trip to Ocean Shores, hiking and picnics at Mt. Rainier with freshly churned ice cream, cutting their Christmas tree in the hills while enjoying a campfire for roasting hot dogs, chili and of course, marshmallows.

The couple enjoyed traveling to Sweden, Europe, New Zealand, Caribbean cruises with Hawaii being their favorite location. Later, including their two grandsons on trips to Disneyland, Disneyworld and Washington DC. They attended all of their grandsons’ sports activities.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Tjarnberg and siblings, Romeo Smieja, Grace Blondin, Helen Herke, Lawrence Smieja, Julia Decoto, Margaret Willard and brothers-in-laws Ralph and Oliver Tjarnberg plus many nephews and nieces.

Mary is survived by her daughters, TJ (Janet) Tjarnberg (Brooke Creswell) and Trudy Tjarnberg and partner (Dwayne LeVert) of Tigard, grandchildren Mark (Teresa) Blondin with granddaughters Emma/Olivia and Eric Blondin (Janelle) with granddaughters Margo/Ellie. She was a very special Aunt to nephews Ray Decoto, Joe Herke, Roger Willard, David Willard, Tom Tjarnberg, Steve Tjarnberg and nieces Beverly Alexander, Joyce Johnson, Marilyn Canterbury, Diane Miner, Debbie Beach, Joy Hanson, Cheryl Hawes and Debbie Martin. She was greatly loved by several great nieces and nephews including Krystal and Rachel Miner.

Mom had been legally blind from Macular Degeneration since 2006 but was always upbeat and never let her lack of eyesight slow her down. In her later years she loved going to lunch with her many friends and family. Most of her nieces and nephews kept in close contact with Mom via the phone...her lifeline. She loved hearing from all of them and hearing about their families and activities.

Her daughters were at her bedside as she slipped away on Thursday, April 20th from a GI bleed. She made the decision that she had lived a long, good life and didn’t want an invasive surgery after initial treatment was ineffective. In lieu of flowers, if preferred please donate in her honor to a charity of your choice. Per Mary’s request, there won’t be a service but instead a graveside service at 11:00 on Saturday, May 20th at Terrace Heights Memorial Park when she’ll join her beloved husband of 57 years in the same gravesite. So, they’ll be connected forever as they have been during their life. A Reception to celebrate Mary's life will follow.