Sigrid "Bopa" Harriett Oscarson Wares

Sigrid Wares, resident of Locust Grove, VA, passed away on Wednesday afternoon, October 9th, 2024 in the embrace of her husband Bill Wares and daughter Ingrid Puffer. She was the daughter of Bertil [Bill] and Harriett Oscarson, both deceased.

Sigrid was born in Cleveland Heights, OH on July 14th, 1947. At a young age she moved with her family to Vernon, and then Brattleboro, VT. She attended Brattleboro Union High School until her senior year, when her family moved to Eagle Bridge, NY. There, she graduated with honors from Cambridge High School. Active in cheerleading, gymnastics, volleyball, and skiing, she was also Junior High Prom Queen and Junior Prom Queen.

Sigrid graduated salutatorian from Columbia Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Hudson, NY and returned to school in her 30’s for a Bachelor’s degree with honors from Roger Williams University. As a Supervisory Nurse at the Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, NY, Sigrid was the recipient of numerous commendations, winning the “Nurse of the Year” award on May 12th, 1989 from the United States Army Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) in Fort Drum, NY, in part for her management of a $750,000 renovation of the Watervliet Arsenal Clinic.  Citations included “outstanding professionalism, leadership, and skillful personnel management,” “effective organizational skills,” and “nursing creativity.” 

After the death of her brother Bob in 2014, Sigrid discovered her talent for painting. Since then, she has produced over 200 works in a range of styles, using Acrylics, Oil & Cold Wax, Archival Inks, Encaustic Hot Wax, and Modeling Pastes. Her website along with an artist statement can be found here. She was an active member of Lake of the Woods Arts, most recently helping to organize a giving table for the upcoming Annual Art Show on November 16th - 17th, 2024. A table of Sigrid’s art will be sold during this show.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Bill Wares; her daughter Chiara Shah of Troy, NY; her daughter Ingrid Puffer of Leesburg, VA; her son, Brad Wares, of Round Rock, TX; and her sisters, Kim Oscarson of Westbrook, ME and Andrea Pence of Portland, ME. In addition to numerous nieces and nephews, she had seven grandchildren: Danielle, Kiran, Robert, Kayla, Travis, Gavin, and Mina.

Friends and family will forever remember her winning smile, the twinkle in her eye, her love of humor, and her creativity. From painting, to sewing, to jewelry making, to sign-making, to making photo books as gifts, Sigrid put her all into everything she did!

A memorial will be held on November 9th, from 1 - 4 pm, at the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse, 102 Lake of the Woods Way, Locust Grove, VA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sigrid’s honor to Tunnel to Towers. Please enter Sigrid’s name and email address (swares@comcast.net) when making your donation.  Since 9/11, Tunnel to Towers has been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. They are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001.