SOUTH THOMASTON - Astri Thorvaldsen Sleeper, 79, passed peacefully Monday afternoon October 31, 2017 after a long illness.

Born in Oslo, Norway in 1937, she was the daughter of Olav and Hjordis Larson Thorvaldsen. She came to the United States with her mother fleeing Nazi occupied Norway in 1940. Astri first stayed in New York City with friends, but ultimately settled in Glen Cove in 1942.

There in Rockport, her mother Hjordis was a noted amateur photographer and her father was in the Merchant Marines where he worked more than 50 years with Gulf Oil Company. She graduated from Rockport High School in 1956 and then went on to Boston, graduating Fischer Junior College in 1958. Astri married Edward B. Sleeper of Rockland, Maine later that same year. It was this union that sent Astri on a lifetime of travel and adventure around the world as her husband was a career Air Force officer.

After raising her children, Astri worked as contractor providing secretarial services for the State Department, earning several awards over her career. Astri's favorite posting was at the U.S. Embassy and at NATO in Brussels Belgium. Astri and Ed retired in 1992, settling in South Thomaston where Astri used her time to become a great gourmet cook and an excellent bridge player.

Astri is survived by her children, Edward Sleeper and his wife Melody of Ashland City, TN, Sonja Sleeper of South Thomaston, Sylvia Seiler of Jonesboro, GA, Erik Sleeper of South Thomaston; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A celebration of Astri's life hosted by her children, will be held from 11:00am to 1:00pm, Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home's, 104 Limerock reception center in Rockland. A graveside service will follow at Village Cemetery, South Thomaston. To share a memory or story with Astri's family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.