Signe Karlsdottir

was born in the village of Brunamåla in the province of Småland in southern Sweden on 31/1/1897. Although her parents had their own small farm, their income was not sufficient to support a family of seven. Many other families were in a similar situation. So, in the first years of her life, Signe experienced many people leaving their homeland. Between 1840 and 1930 1.3 million people emigrated from Sweden.

When Signe's mother died in 1915 the family moved to live with her married sister Edla. After Signe had completed an apprenticeship as a cook,she decided likewise to leave Sweden in 1919. From Gothenburg she took a ship to New York. Relatives already there helped her to settle. Signe soon found employment as a kitchen maid to wealthy families. Adapting to the English name forms she now called herself Signe Karlsson.

From 1923 onwards she looked afterher younger sister Nanny who had come to the USA,however both of them returned to Sweden in 1927. In 1928 Signe travelled to New York again. Fora further ten years she worked again as a kitchen maid and a seamstress. In 1946 she returned permanently to Sweden where she died in a senior citizen's home in 1981.