Mona McGlashan

Mona Ellen Moller McGlashan was born in Miami, Florida, on February 23, 1954 to Axel Louis Moller and Olga Maren Johansen Moller. She was the youngest daughter in a first-generation Danish American family that she deeply adored. Mona grew up caught between two cultures: on one hand, socializing with the many fascinating Scandinavian visitors and expats her family entertained in South Florida, including ambassadors and dignitaries, Miss Universe contestants, musicians, and circus performers who would practice tightrope walking on backyard wires, while simultaneously coming of age as a music obsessed teenager in a major U.S. city. Sometime after ditching her cheerleading uniform, Mona blossomed into a flower child, complete with her signature icy blonde hair, white tights and black eyeliner, and deep love for Led Zeppelin, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and the Moody Blues. She had a penchant for adventure that lives on in the stories she shared of sneaking into concerts, recollections of a boiler room in a Madeira Beach commune that she once lived in, which was adorned with floor-to-ceiling red shag carpeting, as well as heartfelt tales of deep friendship and love that always seemed anchored in her favorite music.

Mona eventually settled in the mountains of North Carolina, where her family had a home. She built a small house on Willow Road on adjoining property, and eventually met David McGlashan. They married in the garden of Flat Rock’s St. John in the Wilderness six months after meeting each other, and were together for over three decades, until her passing. Throughout their many years together, they traveled the world, even stopping over at Mona’s favorite place on earth: the Dolomites. Mona was the mother of two children, Andrew and Maren, who will forever remember her as deeply tender hearted, full of laughter, and their fiercest defender — and also as someone who couldn’t resist cranking up the volume as “Runnin’ Down a Dream” played from her car stereo, with her beloved dog inevitably sticking his head out the window beside her.

Mona was a singularly wonderful person; so filled with joy and love that she gave away freely. She is survived by David, Andrew and Maren, who will miss her forever, her brother Jerry Moller and beloved sister Linda Heuer, Linda’s children Chris Heuer and Diane Lynch, who Mona regarded as a sister, Diane’s husband Michael Lynch, her close friend and sister-in-law Sandy McGlashan, and an extended family that she cared for deeply. She is also remembered by the many, many friends she made along the way. The family is planning a celebration of life for Mona later this year. In the meantime, put on some Joni Mitchell, plant pollinator friendly seeds ahead of the spring (she loved bumble bees!), and advocate for resources, support, and a cure for those experiencing neurodegenerative illness.

The family would love to hear your memories of Mona. Please share a memory or tribute and check back for updates on a ceremony to be scheduled at a future date.