Elva Verona Jorgensen

Elva was born in 1921 to Danish parents, Jens and Jenny Husted in Sac City, Iowa and then in 1949 she married a Danish man Pete Jorgensen from Copenhagen, Denmark.

There is a baby picture of Elva sitting inside a suitcase in front of the family farmhouse. It seemed to predict her future days of living in different places around the United States and the world – Brooklyn, Long Island, Chicago, Phoenix, Santa Barbara as well as Venezuela and Sicily. Elva didn’t travel as a tourist with a “bucket list”. Instead she travelled with an open mind for other people, and a deep appreciation of places that other people called “home”. She had her passport, her “lucky 1921 silver dollar” and an open heart, and she embraced all that she encountered in the places she lived and visited. Whether she was cooking together in other people’s kitchens, or strolling to people’s favorite places, she really knew how to be in the moment with people. In her special way, her delight with the simple life was contagious to those who were with her.

In all that she did, Elva embraced the Danish word “Hygge”. Hygge is a word used to describe a cozy, contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life. She would say “it is the little things that make each day special”, and she did just that every moment. She would cut fresh roses from the garden daily and put them on the dining room table. She welcomed friends and family into the Jorgensen home to eat, laugh and visit together. She cooked delicious food in her kitchen and prepared extra to share. Visitors never felt that they had come by at the wrong time with Elva. She had a gift for making people feel at ease in her presence and that there was no other place she would rather be than with them at that moment, listening to what was on their mind.

Elva made friends easily, but she was also very content in her own company and had a peaceful way about her. Her kind ways were a constant with her, and there was not an expectation for something in return. She was grateful each and every day for life, family and friends. One might describe Elva as an old soul – somebody who had a lot of wisdom about people, life and places, and who knew herself well. She would share her wisdom and loving ways when life’s big events were unrolling and when times of change, confusion, crisis and celebration were at hand.

We are deeply grateful to have shared time with such a wonderful mother, and as our father Pete Jorgensen used to always say about her, “your Mother is so beautiful inside and out”, and as our brother, Paul Jorgensen would say, “She is the real deal”.

Elva Jorgensen is predeceased by her husband, Pete Jorgensen, and son, Paul Jorgensen. She is survived by daughters Linda Jorgensen and Anita Jorgensen Peca (John Peca) and grandson Jay Jorgensen (Deana Jorgensen) and great granddaughters, Jessica, Kaila and Elizabeth Jorgensen. A private memorial service has been planned. If you wish to make donations in her memory, please consider Friendship Center or Hospice or to your favorite charity.