OBITUARY: Signe Karin Roden

Signe Karin Roden

Signe Karin Roden, 80, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2021 at her home surrounded by members of her family. She was the wife of Paul Trom Roden, who had preceded her in death in January 2020. They shared fifty-two years of marriage.

Born in Stavanger Norway, she was the oldest child of Olav Endresen and Inger Endresen (Hodne). As a young child in Norway, Signe experienced the German occupation of her country during WWII and even assisted in the Norwegian resistance by helping members of her family deliver resistance newspapers.

Growing up in Norway both during the war and in the post war era, Signe experienced rationing of food, fabric, and medicine. She often shared stories from that time, such as how she had to wear a dress made of a found parachute when she served as a flower girl shortly after the war, or about the lovely pair of fish skin shoes she had because other materials were so scarce.

After completing high school in Stavanger, Signe went to work as a bookeeper, where she received commendation from her supervisors for her strong work ethic and attention to detail. Signe consistently balanced her checkbook to the penny throughout her life.

Though successful as a bookkeeper, she dreamed of greater adventure. When she turned 22, she was given the opportunity to come to America to serve as a nanny for a family in California. And though the world was in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis, she travelled across the sea ready to start a new life in a new world.

Though she nannied for less than two years, her host family became an extended family to her and they remained close throughout her life, the youngest son still using the endearing nickname he gave her nearly 60 years ago, Coco.

After serving as a nanny, Signe worked at a Scandinavian bakery and then later joined the staff at Seaboard Finance, once again as a bookkeeper. It was during that time that Signe renewed her acquaintance with her soon to be husband, Paul, whom she had known previously, but had lost touch with when he went to serve in Vietnam.

They renewed their friendship and it didn’t take long before the beautiful couple were madly in love. They were engaged on October 13, 1967 and were married six weeks later. Thus began fifty-two years of marriage.

They later moved to Ventura, California, where Signe began working at the Star Free Press in the business office until her first child, a son, Finn, was born in 1972. She then became a full time homemaker and mom to Finn and later to a daughter, Kimberly, in 1975.

As her children were growing up, Signe could always be found volunteering in the classrooms at her children’s school, serving as a room mom, working on a variety of committees, and even serving as the president of the PTA. She never missed a game, or a performance and was always there to help her children with their schoolwork or advise them with their latest crisis.

Signe was an avid reader throughout her life and a proud supporter of St. Judes, Shriners Children’s Hospital and a host of conservative causes.

Signe will always be remembered for her warm heart, her supportive spirit, and for her love and dedication to her friends and family.

She is survived by her son, Finn (Stacey) Roden; daughter, Kimberly (Terje) Roden-Riisnaes; grandson, Kasper Roden-Riisnaes; brother Per Eivind (Wenche) Endresen; and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Trom Roden; her beloved parents, Olav and Inger Endresen; and sister, Reidun Endresen.

Signe wanted to forego a funeral service. She prefers to be remembered with joy and laughter. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.

Memorial donations may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children at https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give/119312/?utm_source=notributes2#!/donation/checkout. Or by mail at: Shriners Hospitals for Children, Processing Center, PO Box 863765, Orlando, FL 32886.