Giovanna Fjelstad

Fjelstad, Giovanna passed away June 20, 2019, following a stroke. Born in Berlin on April 13, 1932, she learned resilience early as her family faced Stalin’s purges while living in the Ukraine. After many moves, she studied at Sarah Lawrence, earning a Master's in math at Harvard. She taught college math. After living in Norway, Germany and Switzerland she settled in Northfield, Minnesota, where she pursued interests in weaving, spinning, gardening, learning languages, and reading. She is survived by her brother Jan; children Per (Lu), Annika (Heather Ferguson), Kaj and Lars (Martha Richards); and grandchildren Ian, Soljan, Josiah and Gabe. A memorial celebration and worship in the manner of the Quakers will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wed, June 26, 2019, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield. Donations can be sent to the Cannon Valley Friends Meeting.  

Published on June 25, 2019