Astrid was born in Sundsvall, Sweden but at an early age moved north to Haparanda, Sweden because her father bought and ran an Inn in that town. Astrid was bilingual, speaking both Swedish and Finnish.
It is a mystery as to why she immigrated to America but arrived in Chicago when she was approximately 25 years old. She worked at the Swedish Embassy in Chicago where she met Frank Vodicka-love at the water cooler! Frank was working for the Czech embassy at that time which was housed in the building as the Swedish Embassy. Frank and Astrid married and raised three children-Dagmar, Ingrid and Thomas.
At the time of Astrid's immigration to Chicago, IL she had a cousin who was employed by a Swedish metal manufacturer in Geary, IN as an engineer. Perhaps he helped to form her decision to some to America-only speculation on my part.
Astrid did not look like the stereotypical Swedish woman. She was very small and had dark features. Much like her two daughters and her granddaughter, Franci Vodicka Ferguson (that would be me!).
Astrid was a heavy smoker most of her life and died of lung cancer in 1976.