A family friend confirmed the death to TT. Gårdenäs's son, Martin Lawton, tells Aftonbladet that she fell asleep last week after a period of illness:
"She brought so much joy. It feels unreal, actually. It's very tough," he says.
Gårdenäs began her career in the group Rainy Day Women in the late 1960s and later in Lena Maria & Sweet Wine. She also toured with artists such as ABBA, Eva Rydberg and Jerry Williams.
In 1979, Gårdenäs played the female lead in Lasse Åberg's "Repmånad", and in 1982 she appeared in the TV series "Skulden" with Gösta Ekman. She also had her own TV series "Lena Maria show" on SVT in the 1980s.
Martin Lawton remembers his mother as a fun, positive person who wasn't afraid to try new things. He specifically mentions her role in "Repmånad":
"It's great that it's become a cult film that's shown annually. It's great to be able to see mom in that role," he says.
Lena Maria Gårdenäs was 79.
