Aina Elizabeth Wadensten

Aina E. Wadensten, 84, of Charlestown, passed away peacefully Thursday. She was the beloved wife of Theodore “Ted” Wadensten for 58 years and the daughter of the late Karl and Anne Warnstrom. Besides her husband, she is survived by her two children, Karl Wadensten, his wife Kymberly of South Kingstown, Linda Wadensten of Charlestown and five grandchildren. Aina and Ted immigrated to the United States from Sweden and dreamed of building a company. Together they worked tirelessly starting their company VIBCO in a chicken coop in their backyard with seed money from Karl and Anne. Aina was truly a pioneer, as a working business woman, a young mother and loyal wife to Ted and juggling many activities during a time when a woman’s place was still considered to be in the home. They moved their family and the business to Rhode Island in 1974. Rhode Island’s peaceful towns and proximity to the ocean reminded them both of their home in Sweden. They believed it was a place they could raise Linda and Karl and grow their family and factory. Aina was a lady could turn a whole room, day or minute around with possibilities and a look at the bright side. She believed in the people around her and always had a kind word, time to listen and a way of making others feel better. The vendors and people she worked with at VIBCO could always count on Aina and her dog Fluffy being there to greet them. She claimed that Fluffy was a great judge of character. Aina’s ethics and people-centric values were cherished by her children and grandchildren as core principles and she was their guiding light. Aina loved the arts and gardening. She enjoyed attending many New England Art Shows and loved flowers and arranging flowers and passing on her heritage and customs to her children and grandchildren, celebrating Christmas and Easter in the Swedish tradition. Her love of Sweden was matched by her love for the United States and she celebrated the life that she and her family shared here. It is sad to lose Aina during this holiday season. Let’s all take a pause be thankful and be kind to those less fortunate whether they be man or animal. Let’s be grateful that Aina was on this earth for eighty-four years and touched and loved so many people. Visiting hours will be at the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St Wakefield, Saturday December 10th, from 10am – 12pm. Funeral services and burial will be private. Aina had a deep love of animals, in lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Animal Rescue Rhode Island PO Box 458 Wakefield, RI 02880. For guest book and condolences please visit www.averystortifuneralhome.com.