Ruth E. Bjorken

Ruth (Eliason) Bjorken, dear mother of Eileen Holleran, died April 7 in her Sandy Hook home after a three-and-a-half-year valiant battle with cancer.

The widow of Elov Bjorken, she was sadly predeceased by her son, Bruce, and also a sister, Dorothy Grant. She was born September 11, 1916, to the late Carl and Ida Eliason in Bridgeport, where she was a longtime resident. As a young lady, she was a member of the Swedish Dance Team, and was ever since drawn to the dance floor by the strains of Swedish music. She lived in Morris for 25 years before moving to the home of her daughter and son-in-law seven years ago.

A very hardworking woman, she was a waitress until the age of 70, and her many-faceted skills of a homemaker were superb. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the Scandinavian Club, the Swedish Welfare, and the Newtown Senior Center.

Besides her daughter and son-in-law, Howard, she is survived by four grandchildren and spouses, Bonnie and Michael Skane of Woodbury, Heather and Gus Sfaelos of New Milford, Todd and Jennifer Holleran of Ovid, N.Y., and Tricia and Derek Bobowick of Sandy Hook; three great-grandchildren, Kevin and Danielle Skane and Derek Bobowick, Jr; two sisters, Edna Haffling of Stratford and Mae Johnson and husband, Roland, of Bridgeport; three nieces, Ellen, Pamela and Nancy; and a nephew, Arthur.

Her gentle, kind spirit will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Friends are invited to a memorial service on April 26, at 11 am, in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 466 Elm Street, Monroe. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

The Larson Funeral Home, 2496 North Avenue, Bridgeport, is in care of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee                April 11, 2003