Kjersti Larsson

in Swedish

Kjersti Larsson

1872-1919

Kjersti Larsson's tombstone ↓ catches your eye when you walk in the cemetery. Who was this woman who only lived to be 47? While we search for a picture of Kjersti, this nurse's brooch can stand as a symbol of a life in the service of care.

Kjersti Larsson was born in 1872 in Valleberga, a small village southeast of Tomelilla in Skåne. Kjersti's mother came to the farm as a maid when her father's first wife died. Kjersti had 9 siblings and her mother's first name. Several of her sisters, just like Kjersti, started out as maids..

Kjersti was a smart kid and moved to Kristianstad to study nursing. Her transfer certificate stated that she has good knowledge of Christianity, has received Holy Communion, and is available for marriage.

Kjersti moves to Landskrona

In 1900, Kjersti moved to Landskrona and started working as a nurse at the Suell Foundation. The path to getting there was via a few years of work as a nurse at Vittskövle estate↗ svW in Skåne where she came in 1898. At that time, it was not uncommon for the largest country estates to have their own nurses..

In 1849, the siblings Henrik and Gustafva Suell gave a donation of 20,000 riksdaler to the city of Landskrona. This became the basis for the infirmary - the Suell Foundation - where Kjersti began working about 50 years later. In 1853, the facility was completed and had 15 beds divided into three infirmaries.

The Suell foundation meant a lot to the poor relief effort and is said to be the country's first service house. The Suell siblings are buried at the Old Cemetery, a stone's throw from their donation.

When Kjersti died in 1919 of a cerebral hemorrhage, she had risen through the ranks and was a head nurse. She remained unmarried, which had long been a requirement for nurses. At that time, unmarried nurses wore an enamel nurse's brooch. Those who were married wore one in silver..

Kjersti Larsson's path

Kjersti completed her nursing education in Kristianstad. This education was started in connection with the hospital at the end of the 19th century. There were 8-10 students in each course and she probably worked at the hospital for a few years. This was a common path after studies at that time.

Kjersti's father Lars Pehrsson, who remarried the maid Kjersti Jönsson, was initially a tenant farmer, but later became impoverished. Things went well though for Kjersti and her siblings.

A little social care history

Emma Rappe, 1835-96, became Sweden's first nurse. She was sent by the Red Cross to England to train as a nurse atFlorence Nightingale↗ svW. Before Florence, healthcare had, according to her, been provided by alcoholic and rowdy hospital sisters or by religious sisters, who were more interested in the souls of patients than their bodies.

The emergence of a new view of the nursing profession also became part of the female emancipation process. Ms. Rappe managed to train 57 nurses and the knowledge spread. Swedish Nurses Association↗ was formeds in 1910.

The image on the tombstone is slightly retouched and the background has been toned down..

Her gravesite is today a cultural grave, which means that it is managed by the Church of Sweden..

Kjersti Larsson is buried at Landskrona new cemetary in block 6

References

• About BiBB, an encyclopedia 4.0 and media company
• Cemetary map
• Skånes Hembygdsförbunds årsbok 2001; Skånska godsmiljöer
• Åke Jönsson Historien om en stad del 3:127
• Eva Bohm Okänd, godkänd, legitimerad
• Barbro Holmdahl Sjuksköterskans historia
• Landskrona museum
• Text and photo:Johan Schlasberg

Published: 2007.03 Updated: 2025.06.14

Kategorier 20 Historical persons 45 Landskrona 14

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