Mary Josephine Sjostrom
Sept. 1, 1916-Oct. 9, 2011
Menlo Park, California

Mary Josephine Sjostrom, a 65-year resident of Menlo Park, died peacefully Oct. 9 in Palo Alto at the age of 95. Her family was by her side.

Mary Jo (as she was called) was born and raised in Lordsburg, N.M., where her father, Dr. Edwin Demoss, built and ran the only hospital. At that time Lordsburg was truly "The Wild West" and Mary Jo was exposed to the danger, adventure and fun of that remote environment near the Mexico border.

Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren never tired of her vivid and humourous stories, recounting her colorful childhood in Lordsburg. As wild as Lordsburg was, Mary Jo was always a dedicated student and an avid tennis player. She graduated from Lordsburg High School where she was a star tennis player, qualifying for the State Championships.

She left the Southwest to attend Stanford University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1936. Following her graduation from Stanford, she traveled extensively in Europe. Upon returning from her European travels she married Elmer John Sjostrom, a fellow Stanford student, who went on to practice law in Everett, Wash., and San Francisco.

Mary Jo and Elmer raised their four daughters, Susan, Sally, MaryAnne and Melissa, and grandson, Eric, in Menlo Park. Mary Jo was a residential real estate agent for 25 years working in the Menlo Park and Palo Alto area. She enjoyed golf, the opera, and had a great love of gardening. Her beautiful Menlo Park garden was, indeed, a "showplace."

However, the greatest of joy in her life, as Mary Jo often said, was "my wonderful family." She is survived and will be greatly missed by three daughters, Susan Magallanes of San Anselmo, Sally Jones of Palo Alto and Melissa Vynne of Friday Harbour, Wash.; grandson, Eric Gutierrez of Prunedale; and 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Mary Anne Smith of Charleston, S.C.

Donations may be made to Pathways Hospice of Sunnyvale. A family memorial will be held.