Worcester: Hjordis (Anderson) West, 99, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 1, 2021 in Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center. Formerly from Millbury, Ma., she leaves a daughter, Susan C. and her husband, Henry Franklin of NH; a son, Brent R. and his wife, Kathleen West of Leicester; five grandchildren, Tina Dumont and her husband Ryan of Shrewsbury, Michel Blake and her partner Michael Kurtz and his daughter, Isabella of NH, Jessica West and her husband Stephen Isaacson of Medford, Michael West of CA, and Gregory West and his wife Beck Forsland of OR; six great-grandchildren, Emma, Sara, Abigail, Dalton, Travis and Lee. Her seventh great grandchild will be born in November. She also leaves behind several loved nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. Hjordis was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Runar West, an infant son, Bruce West, her sisters Karin Kullburg and her husband Lars and Margit Riddar and her husband Harold.
Hjordis was born in Narpes, Finland, daughter of John and Hilma (Soderlund) Anderson. As a young girl, she was a member of the Finnish Girl Scouts. She married Runar West in 1946 and immigrated to the United States in 1947. Runar joined her 7 months later. When Hjordis first came to this country she worked at P.A. Cleaners in Worcester. She later worked at David Clark and also managed Runar’s construction company, Viking Builders, Inc. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, The Scandanavian Athletic Club, Nordic Lodge #611 of Vasa Order, and Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja.
Growing up, Hjordis spent most of her free time on her grandmother’s (Josephina Uppgard) farm where she learned how to sew, weave and bake. As an accomplished seamstress, Hjordis made wedding and christening gowns for numerous family members and friends. She enjoyed knitting, counted-cross stitch, gardening, baking and doing the Wonder Word in the newspaper. Her favorite pastime though was spending time with her family and her friends.
Her family would like to thank the staff at Beaumont for the love, kindness and compassion they showed Hjordis and all of her family during her brief time there.
A funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street on Friday, April 9, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Burial in All Faiths Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church Good Samaritan Fund. Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street is directing arrangements. To leave an online message of condolence, please click guestbook link. If you wish to view the live stream service, please visit www.vimeo.com/trinityworcester.