Portland—Marianne Torburg Rudhner Avery, age 89, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2022, at her home, after having a stroke nine days prior.
She was born in Sweden on November 30, 1932, to Karl Georg and Emmy Rudhner. Marianne was the youngest of four, and she’d always say how much that made her learn to be quick and smart. She studied languages and excelled at mathematics. Marianne received the equivalent of an associate's degree in administrative work.
At a young age, she could be found by the river watching the ferry come in from Stockholm. Her mother knew she had dreams of travel like her father. A brief marriage facilitated this dream and she found herself in America.
After ending that marriage, and before returning to Sweden, in 1959 she got on a ship headed to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands for a vacation and knew that’s where she was meant to live. That same day, Marianne got a job at a doctor’s office as the secretary and settled into her new home.
After a short time working at the doctor’s office, a patient asked her to come out sailing with him. Marianne went and ended up waiting three hours for the captain to show up. Captain Dick Avery finally showed up, and that was the beginning of their life together.
Marianne and Dick married on August 18, 1960, with a justice of the peace and a few witnesses.
Avery’s Boathouse, a bareboat charter company, was their first baby. It was Marianne’s business sense that allowed Avery’s Boathouse to become the success it was.
Marianne were blessed with two children, Ingrid Avery, born in 1963, and Morgan Avery, born in 1967, and spent just shy of 60 years on St. Thomas.
Dick wanted Marianne to experience Maine, so in 1970 they visited Southwest Harbor, and the following year bought the “shack” on Great Cranberry Island. He used to love to say it was just like Sweden.
Marianne’s love of her life died on February 3, 2017, in Portland, Maine. Living with Ingrid afforded Marianne the ability to navigate living five years without her husband.
Marianne loved cruising around St. John on the Cranberry Gull, summers on Great Cranberry Island, playing in bridge tournaments anywhere she could, reading any book she could get her hands on, and spending time with family especially her two granddaughters, Emmy AveryWitham and Madelyn Avery. She always loved to say that her mother gave her a choice as a child, either to help with chores or to read. She’d always choose the latter.
Marianne was predeceased by her husband Richard Avery, parents, two sisters, a brother, and her son Hans.
She is survived by her children, Ingrid Avery and her wife Bonnie LePage, Morgan Avery and his wife Margaret Hahn Avery. Granddaughters Emmy AveryWitham and Madelyn Avery. Nieces and nephews in Sweden.
In honor of her traveling soul, her ashes will be spread near St. Thomas in April, the pool on Great Cranberry Island this summer, and in the river where she grew up in Arboga, Sweden.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Humane Society of St. Thomas or the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com