Resolutions

Birthe Jensen Olesen passed away on January 9th 2020 in Media, Pennsylvania at the age of 92. Birthe joined the Philadelphia Princess Marie Lodge 86 on April 19, 1962. Birthe was considered our matriarch and will be greatly missed by all. Birthe was born December 17, 1927 in Aalborg, Denmark. She was the Daughter of the late Magnus and Kirstine (Simonsen) Jensen. She was the oldest of four children growing up and attending school in Aalborg. After finishing her secondary education Birthe went on to study nursing at Copenhagen Hospital. She loved to travel; after a few years of nursing in Copenhagen Birthe decided to branch out and experience life in other countries, first Scotland and England and then the United States. She came here as a nursing exchange student. On November 15, 1955 at the age of 27, Birthe sailed on the Oslofjord, and arrived in New York City. Birthe met her husband Georg Olesen while working in New Jersey. Georg was a fellow Dane coming to the US in 1954. They married May 4th 1957 in the Danish Lutheran Church in Perth Amboy. NJ. The couple settled in the Philadelphia area and quickly became active members of the Danish Brotherhood and Danish Sisterhood Societies. Georg passed away January 1988 after 30 years of marriage. Birthe was a very active committed member of the Sisterhood, rarely missing a lodge meeting or district convention. Birthe was awarded the 2017 Sister of the Year award at the 2017 EGC Convention held in Philadelphia, PA. In 2012 we celebrated her 50th anniversary with 2 other sister members Toby and Ulla, who had joined the sisterhood that same year. In 1983 the Danish Sisterhood celebrated its 100-year anniversary and held its National Convention in Philadelphia. This was the first combined Sisterhood and Brotherhood National Convention known as Phila-Dania, Birthe and her husband Georg spearheaded the convention. Birthe hosted our Lodge’s Christmas Party in her condominium’s party room where she lived in Glen Mills, PA. Smorgasbord, Aquavit, Danish beer and of course Risalamande for dessert was always delicious. Dancing around the Christmas Tree singing Christmas Carrols in Danish and English, opening our gifts--all of this happened because of Birthe’s generosity, opening up her home to all of her sisters. Birthe is survived by her 3 daughters Bente, Annette and Linda. Her daughters Bente and Annette are active members of Sisterhood Lodge 86. Birthe is also survived by her 9 grandchildren and one great grandson. We will miss her!

Bente Olesen Cloud, Daughter & Danish Sister

February & March Specials

Purchase a heart compact, heart flag earrings or a coral heart pendant and the profits from your purchase will go toward the DSS Archival Project.

danishsisterhood.org

Amber Lodge #186 has lost a dear, founding member of our lodge. Joni Hansen Hill passed away at home on February 14, 2021 in Brainerd, MN, surrounded by her family. Joni was born on July 20, 1936 and just celebrated her 84th birthday last summer with family and friends. She was raised on the family farm just south of Brainerd; the same farmland her Danish grandparents purchased in 1885 after immigrating to Minnesota from Denmark. Joni was a founding member of Danish Sisterhood, Amber Lodge #186. She was Secretary/Treasurer for many years, Treasurer and Vice President, holding offices from our founding in 2004 until 2017 when her health prevented her from continuing as an officer. She was an active member and also presented several programs about Denmark at lodge meetings. Joni furthered her exploration of her family's Danish heritage through several trips to Denmark. Amber Lodge Sisterhood members will miss her very much. Joni is survived by her daughters, Karen and Margaret, her brother, Bill Hansen, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research or to the Danish Sisterhood Archival Project through the National Danish Sisterhood Fundraising Initiative. We will drape our Charter in Joni's memory at the first meeting our lodge has when it's possible to meet safely again.

Barb Wenschlag President, Amber Lodge #186

Resolution: Inge Marie Kaplan

On January 6th, 2021 we lost a dear member of the Supreme Danish Sisterhood of America, Lodge # 168, Vintergækken of Bakersfield. Inge joined the Lodge on June 3rd, 1982 and served many years as our great secretary. Inge was born and grew up on a farm around Winton, CA. Her parents were both Danish immigrants, and Danish was her first language, so she was fluid in Danish and often translated letters for people who could not read Danish. Inge worked at a variety of jobs, including as a loan officer at Great Western Bank, and helping her husband run a hamburger stand. When she retired, she filled her time with a variety of clubs: 60 Plus, The Sierra Club, Democratic Women of Kern Co., Widows and Orphans, who get together for holidays, and a couple of lunch groups, meeting once a month. If any group asked for volunteers, Inge was one of the first to offer. In Sisterhood tradition a donation to the CA District Scholarship Fund will be made in Inge’s name. Inge will be remembered as a kind and gentle woman and a great listener; she will truly be missed. Inge’s final resting place will be next to her late husband, Daniel L Kaplan at the Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin.

Vintergækken Danish Lodge #168 of Bakersfield

In Memoriam

NAME Cert # Lodge # Location Birth Date Birth Place Initiated Died Benefit Eleanor Christoffersen 762 36 Perth Amboy, NJ 11.30.21 5.16.86 4.20.20