With much sadness we say goodbye to Else Christensen, who passed peacefully at 91 years of age on March 4th, 2025. The only daughter of a Copenhagen taxi cab driver, she lost her mother at the age of 11 during the Nazi occupation of Denmark, traveled to America with the Girl Scouts, fell in love in San Francisco with a fellow Dane and agreed to marry him after only 11 days, which led to 52 years of marriage. As the wife of a merchant seaman, she raised three sons while working full-time as he was at sea for months at a time.

A banker, a librarian, a school volunteer, she loved books, music, sewing, and going out to plays and concerts. She was quick to have a laugh, share a funny story, host a gathering, join in some knitting or gardening, or share a glass of wine. She touched everyone she knew with her positive outlook. As she said at her 90th birthday celebration, “Remember, there’s always blue sky up above the clouds.”

She came from modest means, and built a wonderful life for herself and her family. In her 91 years, she treated everyone she encountered with kindness, love and compassion. Else is survived by her three sons, Lars, Erik, and Karl; their wives Laura, Ellen, and Juliette, granddaughters Corinne and Hannah, and great granddaughter Luella.

Else was a passionate supporter of local causes, and if inclined, we encourage donations to the Sno-Isle Library system, Whidbey Senior Services, or Habitat for Humanity.