My dear mother, Dagny Emma (Sohlman) Johnson, died March 28, 2009, at age 96. (Dagny is pronounced “Day-nee.”) My mother lived most of her life in Worcester, Massachusetts, but over the most recent years, she lived in Sutton and Auburn, Massachusetts.
She leaves her sons: Carl and his wife, Marianne, of Princeton, Massachusetts, Stephen and his wife, Jennifer, and Thomas and his wife, Pamela, all of Sutton, Massachusetts, David and his wife, Jeanne, of Grafton, Massachusetts, and Jerry of East Albany; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
In 1970, my father, Russell, and my mother purchased a farm on Creek Road in East Albany. When I first visited the farm I said, “This is heaven!” Mom said, “I agree!” Mom loved coming to the farm. It was my parents’ home away from home. They loved the Northeast Kingdom and the people they met. Another time I said, “It’s not when you get into Vermont, it’s when Vermont gets into you!” Mom replied, “I agree!”
Mom and Dad enjoyed the company of the people they met, on and near Creek Road: Alpha LaBounty, Byron and Betty Cook, Cort and Darlene Chaffee, Sharon Scelza, Dale and Harriet Sweeney, the Roberts family, the Dewees family, the Sanville family, Paul and Nancy Daniels, Sonny Sweatt, Ray and Elenore Grimes, the Chapell family, Tim and Elaine Mills, the Locke family, Leonard and Carol Rock, the Strong family, the Wilson family, David and Rose Mary Smith at the Irasburg General Store, all the folks at Ray’s Market and Bob’s Quick Stop, and many more. They loved reading the Chronicle.
Mom’s funeral took place at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Worcester, Massachusetts. I arrived early and had a chance to talk with the minister, the Reverend David Pope. I said, “Reverend Pope, I hope you will call on me first during the tributes and remembrances part of the service. I do not know if I can hold myself together if I have to speak after someone else.”
Just prior to tributes and remembrances, my nieces Katie and Karin and Karin’s husband, Keith, performed some special music. They were incredible. They adapted a Greg Brown song and titled it “Grandma’s Song.” Their singing was in perfect harmony. Karin played the mandolin. Keith played the guitar. After they finished, I said to myself, “That’s a tough act to follow.”
The minister then called me to the pulpit. I looked out at all those wonderful people. I was thrilled to see my dear high school friend Pam Saffer and my dear friend and tennis mentor Billy Power. I was thrilled to see so many people I had not seen in a long time. All of a sudden, a calmness came over me. I knew I could deliver my eulogy about my dear mother. Brothers Tom and Steve spoke after me. They did awesome jobs. Then niece Katie came to the pulpit. She was terrific.
Part of my eulogy follows:
“Mom was the number one cheerleader for her five sons in hockey and tennis and everything in life. She was the number one supporter for my father, Russell. She was also the number one cheerleader for her grandkids and great-grandkids.
“She loved watching tennis. Bjorn Borg was her favorite. Perhaps the fact that Mom’s parents were born in Karlscoga, Sweden, had something to do with it! Mom loved the Celtics; Kevin McHale was her favorite player. Mom loved the Red Sox. Mom can boast that she lived through three World Series championships which the Sox won. She loved the Bruins. Bobby Orr (who else!?) was her favorite.
“Mom always encouraged me in tennis. When I had to play the legend Billy Power, she would say, ‘Jerry, you’re a Swede. Now go out and beat that Irishman!’
“Mom loved coming to the farm in Vermont, which Dad bought in seventy. I was glad I was able to bring her there one more time a few years ago. Through the years, one of her favorite walks was hiking up Chamberlain Hill, behind the farm. My mother loved all animals. Horses, dogs, cats, deer. There was always a dog in the house during my formative years. She loved birds. Her bird feeders were always full. She loved flowers. Her flower gardens always bloomed with the best.
“Mom loved people. When I was a kid, all the kids in the neighborhood would hang out in Mom’s kitchen. She fed them all…!”
