Glorene Delight Mjoness

Glorene was born on May 13, 1926 on her grandparents’ farm near Olivia, Minnesota. She graduated from Shakopee High School in 1944, and immediately sought out adventure with her close-in-age aunt, Grace. They traveled to Flagstaff, Arizona where they worked for several years for the Cargill Corporation. She returned to Minneapolis and she and her sister, Marvey received LPN degrees from the Charles T. Miller School ofPractical Nursing and worked at the Veterans Hospital at Fort Snelling. There she met her husband, Melvin and they were married in 1954. In 1963, Glorene, Mel, and son, Mark moved to Sterling Park, VA as its 93rd family. Glorene loved her house on West Beech Road and lived there until 2022. She also loved her community. She worked as a nurse at Loudoun Memorial Hospital and various doctor offices throughout the Northern VA area. She and Mel were members of the Sterling Ruritan Club as well as the national chapter of the Sons of Norway. Glorene volunteered for LINK and FISH in the Herndon/Sterling area most of her young adult life, volunteering Mark and his friends on weekends beforevolunteering became a “high school requisite.” She and Mel were charter members at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Herndon and Community Lutheran Church in Sterling, VA. In the 1980’s, Glorene and Mel travelled to Norway, The Czech Republic and Europe. Mel passed away in 1991 and Glorene continued to travel with family members and in tour groups for the next 15 years. She made it to New Zealand and Hawaii and back to the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe.

As a senior, she was passionate about Loudoun County building a community center in the eastern part of our County. She and many of the other senior Sterling women worked tirelessly to present an annual Senior Ball and Silent Auction to raise awareness and funds for what is now the Cascades Senior Center. They also operated a thrift store in the Sterling Park Shopping Center where additional funds were raised. She was alsoactively involved in Community Lutheran’s Quilting Group where quilts were sewn for the homeless in the Sterling area. Her favorite job with that group was to canvas local business for materials that they could donate for the quilting cause. She developed relationships with many of the people who worked at those businesses and loved to see them on a regular basis. Glorene did that until she turned 93 years old and could no longer drive. Community Lutheran recognized Glorene at its annual Mother’s Day Tea this past May and she was so honored. She was an active member of the Spring Arbor of Leesburg assisted living facility since mid-2022. She loved to paint, craft, do armchair yoga and socialize. She liked to keep as busy as possible all day long. Her other passion in life was her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She needed an update nearly daily on what the family was up to and loved to get together with us on holidays and all birthdays to have a party. We celebrated her 99th birthday this past year with friends and family enjoying a takeout China King meal, one of her favorite restaurants in Leesburg. On November 7, 2025, after a series of “pesty ailments” Glorene passed away peacefully after lunch and enjoying a nice conversation with caring staff.

Glorene is survived by her son, Mark (Sue); sister, Shirly Friberg; grandchildren, Matt Mjoness (Meredith), Jessy Mjoness-Camp (Dave); great grandchildren, Lincoln Fields, Matthew Mjoness, Weston Fields, and Marin Mjoness; a special niece, Nancy Perlich (Brad); and nephews, Scott Friberg (Amy) and Ken Friberg (Rebecca). Ken recently summed up Glorene best: “I have so many memories of her feisty attitude. A warrior to justice.” Glorene would have cherished that observation.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Orville Melvin Mjoness; parents Alvin and Clara Puff; sister, Marvel Holland; and brothers-in law, Truman Holland and Dr. Richard Friberg.

A memorial service will be held at Community Lutheran Church on December 9, 2025, at 11 am. The family asks that in lieu of flowers attendees consider bringing a toy for the annual interfaith LINK Holiday Toy Drive, which is taking place at Community Lutheran this year.