Birte K. Sorensen

72, of Salem, MA, wife of the late Henry Sorensen, and formerly of Marblehead, died peacefully July 10, 2006, at her home after a short battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Born, raised and married in Denmark, Birte and her husband, Henry, came to the U.S. in 1957 "just for a few years." But, Once they found their way to Marblehead in 1961, there they remained, enjoying the town and America, raising their family and making great friends. In anticipation of her husband's retirement, Birte rekindled her interest in drawing and began taking painting lessons from Mary Field and Em Marquis Brown, among other mentors. She began with oil painting and then moved on to watercolor, her lasting and preferred medium. Birte enjoyed painting still lifes and landscapes, drawing inspiration from around town, New England and travels in the Southwest and Europe. Birte was a long-time member of the Marblehead Arts Association and Swampscott Arts Association, and loved spending time with fellow Cottage Gardeners. Friends are invited to a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. on July 20, 2006 at the Church of St. Andrew, 135 Lafayette St., Marblehead, MA 01945. A celebratory reception will follow with an exhibition of her paintings. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Anne and Peter Barada of Marblehead, son and daughter-in-law Peter and Christy Sorensen and their daughter Rachel of Salem, and son Lars Sorensen and his fiancee Kirsten Conroy of Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St, Marblehead, MA 01945 or Swampscott Art Association, 64 Stetson Ave., Swampscott, MA 01907. Eustis-Cornell Funeral Home 142 Elm Street Marblehead, MA 01945 781-631-0076.