Margareta Magnusson

Margareta Magnusson
Born
Margareta Elisabeth Bothén

(1934-12-31)31 December 1934
Gothenburg, Sweden
Died12 March 2026(2026-03-12) (aged 91)
Gothenburg, Sweden
EducationBeckmans College of Design
OccupationsPainter, Author
Notable workThe Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Margareta Elisabeth Bothén (31 December 1934 – 12 March 2026) was a Swedish painter and essayist.[1]

Magnusson was born in Gothenburg, the daughter of gynecologist Nils Bothén and nurse Carin Lindqvist. She studied at the Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm, from where she graduated in 1956.[2] She was best known for popularizing the term Swedish death cleaning, in which those near death would declutter their homes and give away possessions.[3][4] The practice was done primarily to save loved ones from having to partake in cleaning out items after one's death and the emotional distress of doing so.[5]

Magnusson died in Gothenburg on 12 March 2026, at the age of 91.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Mort de Margareta Magnusson, autrice suédoise d'un best-seller, La vie en ordre". Le Figaro (in French). 13 March 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  2. ^ Kornelis, Chris (13 March 2026). "Margareta Magnusson, 91, Dies; Wrote of Cleaning Up Before Dying". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  3. ^ "En Suède, le nettoyage de la mort". Radio France (in French). 1 November 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  4. ^ ""Nettoyage de la mort" : le nom choque, mais cette méthode scandinave marche vraiment". Le Journal de la maison (in French). 6 November 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  5. ^ "En Suède, la mort se prépare aussi en faisant le ménage". La Dépêche du Midi (in French). 6 November 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  6. ^ Loffhagen, Emma (16 March 2026). "Margareta Magnusson, Swedish 'death cleaning' author, dies age 92". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2026.