Obituary for Andrea Wensberg
Andrea C. Wensberg
October 22, 1928-April 6, 2023
Andrea Craigue Wensberg was born in Seattle, Washington to Allen and Delena Craigue. Growing up as an only child in Everett, WA, she spent many summers with her beloved grandmother Eva Hudon in the Seattle area before going onto attend the University of Washington.
At university, Andrea was a home economics major and an active participant in the theatre as an accomplished ballerina, singer, and actress. It was there that Peter Wensberg, a handsome, young houseboy working part-time at her sorority caught her eye. With the assistance of some close friends, a series of surreptitious dates ensued (as it was strictly against sorority rules for the women of the house to date the hired help!). A live goldfish quietly poured into her waterglass during a formal sorority dinner soon sealed the deal, and the rest, as they say, is history.
After graduating, fiancé Peter C. Wensberg moved east to start his career in New York and Andrea soon followed. The couple was married in Mamaroneck, NY in 1951. A year later they welcomed the birth of their firstborn son, Craig Allen Wensberg in April of 1952. Moving to the Boston area a few years later, they settled in Hingham, MA and three more sons followed: Erik, Ander, and Peter.
The Wensberg family enjoyed an adventurous and colorful life in Hingham, MA and Squam Lake, NH for some 30 years, prior to moving to Woodside, CA in the mid-eighties. Forays then followed to Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Fe, NM, and Boston, MA, before making their retirement home in Greenfield, NH.
Andrea was a devoted mother and homemaker in the fullest sense of the word. She worked hard and took great pride in creating a beautiful home. She loved all aspects of her home life including cooking, gardening, sewing, collecting antiques, decorating and entertaining. Her passion for flowers led her to establish her own floral business with friend Daphne Mowatt. ‘Call-A-Flower,’ a floral event stylist business, produced flowers for weddings and parties. Andrea was a long-time member and volunteer at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts where her responsibilities included providing the floral arrangements for the museum lobby.
Throughout her life, Andrea was particularly interested in Native American history and are and for over 30 years she and Peter spent considerable time in Santa Fe, NM. Throughout that time, they enjoyed exploring the southwest and became avid collectors of Native American art and supporters of Native American causes. Andrea and Peter loved to travel and over the years they traveled extensively throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Highlights of their travels included several horse drawn carriage tours in Europe, and a trip to Egypt there they (Andrea somewhat reluctantly) rode camels!
Andrea was consistently active in a wide variety of community causes wherever she lived. When the boys were growing up, she advocated for and had considerable impact in the school system’s incorporation of alternate approaches to teaching children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. In Hingham in the late 70’s, Andrea was one of the early supporters of ‘sustainability’ (before that was even a term) and was instrumental in establishing the first recycling center in Hingham. Well ahead of her time, she provided her children with reusable canvas shopping bags as early as l980!
Clothing and fashion were also great passions. In addition to keeping abreast of fashion trends, and always dressing ‘to the nines,’ she enjoyed sewing, crafts and creating her own clothes and home décor.
Andrea adored animals, particularly farm animals. Nothing made her happier than a visit to a local farm with cows, horses or chickens. Her love of dogs and cats was evidenced by the steady stream of pets that filled her life with endearing names such as: Peanut Butter Sandwich, Exquisite Footwear, Parson Pearl, Tinker Tanker and Mister Stripey Pants.
Andrea spent her last year in wonderful care at Carriage Hill Assisted Living in Madbury, NH. At the age of 94, she died peacefully of natural causes, surrounded by her family. She was pre-deceased by her husband Peter in 2006, and eldest son Craig in 2021.
Andrea is survived by her children Erik & Molly Wensberg of Strafford, NH, Ander and Lisa Wensberg of Middletown, RI, Peter and Elizabeth Wensberg of Strafford, NH, Barbara Wensberg of Millburn, NJ, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ellie & Joel Pelcyger of Los Angeles, CA, and seven loving grandchildren: Emily, Lance, Kelsey, Dana, Garrett, Sophia and Ander.
A private family service was held at Greenvale Cemetery in Greenfield, NH on May 9, 2023.
October 22, 1928-April 6, 2023
Andrea Craigue Wensberg was born in Seattle, Washington to Allen and Delena Craigue. Growing up as an only child in Everett, WA, she spent many summers with her beloved grandmother Eva Hudon in the Seattle area before going onto attend the University of Washington.
At university, Andrea was a home economics major and an active participant in the theatre as an accomplished ballerina, singer, and actress. It was there that Peter Wensberg, a handsome, young houseboy working part-time at her sorority caught her eye. With the assistance of some close friends, a series of surreptitious dates ensued (as it was strictly against sorority rules for the women of the house to date the hired help!). A live goldfish quietly poured into her waterglass during a formal sorority dinner soon sealed the deal, and the rest, as they say, is history.
After graduating, fiancé Peter C. Wensberg moved east to start his career in New York and Andrea soon followed. The couple was married in Mamaroneck, NY in 1951. A year later they welcomed the birth of their firstborn son, Craig Allen Wensberg in April of 1952. Moving to the Boston area a few years later, they settled in Hingham, MA and three more sons followed: Erik, Ander, and Peter.
The Wensberg family enjoyed an adventurous and colorful life in Hingham, MA and Squam Lake, NH for some 30 years, prior to moving to Woodside, CA in the mid-eighties. Forays then followed to Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Fe, NM, and Boston, MA, before making their retirement home in Greenfield, NH.
Andrea was a devoted mother and homemaker in the fullest sense of the word. She worked hard and took great pride in creating a beautiful home. She loved all aspects of her home life including cooking, gardening, sewing, collecting antiques, decorating and entertaining. Her passion for flowers led her to establish her own floral business with friend Daphne Mowatt. ‘Call-A-Flower,’ a floral event stylist business, produced flowers for weddings and parties. Andrea was a long-time member and volunteer at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts where her responsibilities included providing the floral arrangements for the museum lobby.
Throughout her life, Andrea was particularly interested in Native American history and are and for over 30 years she and Peter spent considerable time in Santa Fe, NM. Throughout that time, they enjoyed exploring the southwest and became avid collectors of Native American art and supporters of Native American causes. Andrea and Peter loved to travel and over the years they traveled extensively throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Highlights of their travels included several horse drawn carriage tours in Europe, and a trip to Egypt there they (Andrea somewhat reluctantly) rode camels!
Andrea was consistently active in a wide variety of community causes wherever she lived. When the boys were growing up, she advocated for and had considerable impact in the school system’s incorporation of alternate approaches to teaching children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. In Hingham in the late 70’s, Andrea was one of the early supporters of ‘sustainability’ (before that was even a term) and was instrumental in establishing the first recycling center in Hingham. Well ahead of her time, she provided her children with reusable canvas shopping bags as early as l980!
Clothing and fashion were also great passions. In addition to keeping abreast of fashion trends, and always dressing ‘to the nines,’ she enjoyed sewing, crafts and creating her own clothes and home décor.
Andrea adored animals, particularly farm animals. Nothing made her happier than a visit to a local farm with cows, horses or chickens. Her love of dogs and cats was evidenced by the steady stream of pets that filled her life with endearing names such as: Peanut Butter Sandwich, Exquisite Footwear, Parson Pearl, Tinker Tanker and Mister Stripey Pants.
Andrea spent her last year in wonderful care at Carriage Hill Assisted Living in Madbury, NH. At the age of 94, she died peacefully of natural causes, surrounded by her family. She was pre-deceased by her husband Peter in 2006, and eldest son Craig in 2021.
Andrea is survived by her children Erik & Molly Wensberg of Strafford, NH, Ander and Lisa Wensberg of Middletown, RI, Peter and Elizabeth Wensberg of Strafford, NH, Barbara Wensberg of Millburn, NJ, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ellie & Joel Pelcyger of Los Angeles, CA, and seven loving grandchildren: Emily, Lance, Kelsey, Dana, Garrett, Sophia and Ander.
A private family service was held at Greenvale Cemetery in Greenfield, NH on May 9, 2023.