Former Inverness resident Eleanor Mae Abelseth, an
artist and musician who loved whooping it up by playing her Hammond
organ at top volumes, died Friday, January 13, in Sebastopol, of cardiac
failure. She was 90.
Mrs. Abelseth was also born on Friday the 13th —
in August of 1915 — and unlike those superstitious about the date,
she always considered Friday the 13th to be her special day. Commenting
on the mystery of her mother entering and exiting the world on her lucky
day, her daughter Irene Meinicke said, "it was her final performance."
A West Marin resident for 30 years, Mrs. Abelseth
and her husband, Donald, moved to Inverness in 1945. Her husband was
an architect and contractor who built many West Marin homes, and also
served as Inverness firechief.
Mrs. Abelseth was active in the Inverness Garden Club,
and taught sewing to 4H members.
Loved music, loved to dance
She loved to dance and at a local PTA talent show
one year, to a recorded version of the bawdy classic, "The Stripper,"
performed a striptease. According to family members, her exuberance
raised a few eyebrows, though her routine was relatively tame.
An enthusiastic swimmer, Mrs. Abelseth regularly swam
from beach to beach in Tomales Bay with her daughter.
Mrs. Abelseth took many art classes at local junior
colleges, and became an accomplished portrait artist, gem faceter and
calligrapher. She was a member of the Art Workshop of Western Sonoma
County.
Mrs. Abelseth was born Eleanor Mae Diehl in Los Angeles.
When she was just six weeks of age her parents moved their young family
to the Boston area, making the journey by train. Her father was among
other things, a chemist, and invented a lotion called Magic Hand. His
varied enterprises eventually brought the family to San Francisco where
Eleanor met her future husband in high school.
Small woman, big voice
A gifted musician, for more than 20 years she sang
alto in a choir. "She was a little person with a deep voice,"
said her daughter. In addition to the organ, she also played the trombone
and the accordion.
She worked briefly as a dresser at the Fox Theater
in San Francisco, helping performers change costumes between acts.
Mrs. Abelseth enjoyed spending time at her home in
the Sierra. While vacationing in the mountains she became friends with
adventurer, Nicol Smith, and edited the manuscript of one his books
on the Burma Road.
Noted her daughter, "she was content and happy
with how her life turned out."
Mrs. Abelseth was predeceased by her husband of 43
years, Donald Abelseth; brother, Marshall W. Diehl; sister, Alma Diehl;
grandson, Travis Meinicke; and her nephew, Marshall Diehl.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Irene
and Erich Meinicke of Sebastopol; son, Ronald B. Abelseth; granddaughter,
Marlo Meinicke of Rohnert Park; and her nephew, Frank Diehl of Sonora,
Tuolumne County.
Inurnment will be at Olivet Memorial Park in San Francisco.