Ingeborg J. Henriksen, 95
READSBORO, Vt. — Ingeborg Johanna Henriksen, 95, of Birch Road died Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at home.
Born in Roa, a hamlet in Oslo, Norway, on Feb. 20, 1916, daughter of Wilhelm and Anna Furstenau, she was the youngest of seven children, all of whom predeceased her. She was educated in Oslo and graduated from Ulleval Hospital's nursing school in 1938 and was employed as an infant nurse. She moved to Readsboro in 1985.
It was during the German occupation of Norway in 1941 that she met and fell in love with Arne Henriksen; they married in July 1942. They were members of the Norwegian resistance, fighting the occupation until their nation regained its independence at the end of World War II. She and her husband moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1949 with their two daughters, 3-year-old Annelise and year-old Inger. The family moved to a Norwegian community, Lake Telemark, in Rockaway, N.J., in 1952 and their youngest, Helyn, was born the next year.
Mrs. Henriksen first worked as a nurse at the Norwegian Children's Home in Brooklyn and began her 21-year career as a head nurse at St. Clair's Hospital in Denville, N.J., in 1958. It was there she created her second family, comprised of the staff and doctors at the hospital. She became a respected charge nurse, whom people turned to for care and support.
From the moment she arrived in this country until her death, she was sought after by members of the community and friends for medical advice, nursing care and end-of-life care for many close friends. She never asked for payment; all of her care was given from the heart. She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Rockaway and a life member of the Sons of Norway.
She and her husband built homes in 1985 on land in Readsboro that they'd owned since 1960 with their daughters Inger Strom-Henriksen and Helyn Strom-Henriksen, and granddaughter, Anna Lise Strom-Henriksen. Her grandsons Stephen and Hank join the family in 1989 and 1995. During her retirement years, she was extremely active in raising her grandchildren and being with and caring for her friends.
Mrs. Henriksen lived a long and remarkable life and touched the lives of those she met and cared for in many ways. Her life can be described in three ways: love for her family, love for her native country Norway and caring from the heart for her friends.
She leaves her husband and three daughters, including Annalise Carew, all of whom reside in Readsboro; her grandsons, Stephen of Readsboro and Hank Strom-Henriksen of Bennington; her granddaughter, Annelise Strom-Henriksen of Hatfield, Mass., and nieces and nephews in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Norway and Denmark.
She was predeceased by an infant son and sons-in-law Thomas and Bob.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A celebration of Mrs. Henriksen's life will be held at a date to be announced. Fynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, in North Adams, Mass., is in charge of arrangements.