Elsa Lofgren
Millhouse of Concord, N.H., and formerly of Williston, Vt., a beloved
mother and grandmother, passed away on January 14, 2024. Elsa was
sharp-witted, feisty and full of life until the day she died. She was
exceptional, with a unique energy and zest for life that kept her
going.
Elsa was born in Chester, Pa., in 1923. Her parents
were immigrants of Danish and Swedish origin, and she was forever
proud of her Scandinavian heritage. She spent her Depression-era
childhood moving from one place to another as her father looked for
steady work. By high school graduation, Elsa had lived in more than
30 places.
She never stopped moving. A graduate of New
England College and Boston University, Elsa served in the U.S. Navy
as a radar technician stationed in Rhode Island during World War II.
There she met her husband, Frank. Their life was filled with
adventure. Frank’s job kept them busy entertaining and moving from
one beautiful locale to the next. They loved sailing in their boat,
Tophat,
and skiing in Vermont and Québec.
Elsa was forever an
athlete and enjoyed almost 30 years of retirement in Vermont, skiing
and playing golf and tennis. She lived close to her daughter Kathy
Erickson, husband Mark, and her grandchildren Sara and Max Erickson,
and always shared that Vermont was where her heart was.
Elsa’s
children and grandchildren were the light of her life. In her final
three years, she lived in Concord, N.H., to be near her daughter
Sherry Hieber and her grandchildren Edward and Jana, who helped care
for Elsa in her final years. The entire family and friends celebrated
her 100th birthday in May 2023, which was a lovefest! A celebration
of life for Elsa will be held in July in Vermont.
This article appears in Jan 16 – Mar 31, 2024.