Siw Marianne Nilsson Cederblad Kristiansson (February 28, 1940 – March 2, 2023) was born in Stockholm, Sweden to Helge and Alva Nilsson. She was adopted by her stepfather John Cederblad, studied business, and traveled to the United States at 18 to stay with her sister in Worcester and work at Industrial City Bank. She met her husband of 56 years, Leif Kristiansson, at a Scandinavian American Club dance in 1958; they married in 1962. In 1976 they moved to Holden, where Siw volunteered at Chaffins School and Holden Hospital. She later worked as a bookkeeper for Meola’s Dairy and Worcester Community Housing Resources. Siw was an active member of the Vasa Order of America, serving as Nordic Lodge #611 chairman and treasurer, and District Lodge auditor, trustee, and executive board member. She enjoyed knitting, needlework, gardening, and music, including performing with the Nordic Nuts.
Siw was predeceased by her beloved husband Leif, sister Gunvor Nilsson Grunditz, and cousins Elsa, Frederick, and Mary Johnson. She is survived by daughter Karen (Mark) and granddaughters Mara and Kaia of California; cousin Bob Johnson (Maria) of Florida and their daughters, Mia (Kyle), Allison (Brendan), and Alexandra (Chris), and grandchildren Culver, James, and Emma; nieces Anne-Marie (Carmith) and Anette (Ulf), and grand-nephew Theo in Sweden; and numerous dear family and friends in the United States and Sweden.
Memorial services will be held at Nordgren Funeral Home, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester on Thursday, March 30 at 1:30pm, with calling hours at 12:30pm, followed by burial at All Faiths New Swedish Cemetery and coffee at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Nordic Lodge #611; to the Massachusetts SPCA; or to Goddard House, 1199 Main Street in Worcester. For directions or to leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.