Esther J. Odegaard

Esther Johanna “Joni” (Evensen) Odegaard February 12, 1923 - August 19, 2026 Esther Johanna “Joni” (Evensen) Odegaard was born the youngest of five children on February 12, 1923, in Staten Island, New York. Nicknamed Joni by her older siblings, she was a first generation American, the daughter of Peder Evensen and Hilma (Pettersen) Evensen, Norwegian immigrants who both bravely emigrated to the U.S. when they were teenagers. Her father was a talented musician and could play the piano, mandolin, flute, and guitar. He also worked in home construction on Staten Island. In 1928, when Joni was 5, her father passed away. Her mother began working as a domestic helper for other families to make ends meet, and she was a major inspiration for Joni’s later cooking and crafting pursuits. After Joni graduated from Port Richmond High School in 1941, her brother Max helped her get a job at Bethlehem Steel in Mariners Harbor, where she held an administrative position in the company that was a major World War II shipbuilding facility. Joni was part of the close-knit Norwegian community on Staten Island and attended the Norwegian Evangelical Free Church Mission (renamed Salem Church in 1935) from the time she was born until her move to New Hampshire with her husband, Lloyd. She and Lloyd grew up together at Salem, beginning in the nursery, through young adulthood. After many long walks to church together, sleigh-riding in Silver Lake Park, and attending various youth group events, they married on August 15, 1942. They enjoyed more than 73 years of marriage before Lloyd passed away in 2016 after spending the majority of their lives living in New York, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. Joni was known for her wide variety of crafting and cooking skills. While living full-time in New Hampshire, she took advantage of many crafting classes, including rug-braiding, rug-hooking, painting (watercolor and Tole), sewing, and doll-making. She also enjoyed crewel embroidery and needlepoint. Joni had an eye for antiques, traveling throughout New England to find items to both decorate her home and for resale in her Northwood, New Hampshire, antique shop called The Victorian Gazebo. After relocating back to Staten Island in 1972, she would often travel back to the shop on weekends. Beginning in the late 1970s, Lloyd became a bus driver for the New York City public schools. Joni was the matron on his route until their retirement in 1990, when they returned to New Hampshire (and the antique shop) for fourteen years, before ultimately moving to New Jersey. Joni was affectionately known as Nanny to her fifteen grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren. She and Poppy (Lloyd) enjoyed many visits with them throughout the years in their homes in Staten Island, Northwood, and Tinton Falls, and after Poppy’s passing, in Roswell, Georgia. Her home-cooked Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas spreads were legendary, including her plum pudding, Norwegian Christmas cookies, rice cream with strawberry sauce, pumpkin chiffon pie, Dutch apple pie, and decadent chocolate cake. While Joni’s cooking and crafting ability were iconic, her greatest legacy was her faith in Jesus. She prayed for her entire family, including her “children’s children’s children” regularly, which she kept organized on a well-worn prayer card. Her greatest desire was for all of them to come to know the love of Jesus Christ. She held tight to the promise of Psalm 100:5: “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Her life verse, along with Lloyd, was Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” While imperfectly human, her heart’s desire was to please the Lord with her life. Joni passed away peacefully on August 19, 2026, at the age of 103 and a half. Joni was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd B. Odegaard; her sons, Lloyd B. Odegaard, Jr., and Drew Ole Odegaard; her parents Peder Evensen and Hilma (Pettersen) Evensen; brothers Arthur, Max, and Lester Evensen; and her dear sister, Mabel Johnson. Joni is survived by her son, Randall (Jodie) Odegaard, daughter, Leigh Kristen (John) Ensor, and daughters-in-law Glenda (Lloyd B., Jr.) and Linda (Drew Ole). She is also survived by her fifteen grandchildren: Treva (Tony) Taglieri, Shani (Al) Rodriquez, Mandl O’Connor, Evan (Jessica) Odegaard, Christine Odegaard, Rebecca (Wilson) Lugo, Ross (Katie) Odegaard, Korinne (Stephen) Comkowycz, Kryst (Matt) Notaro, Jessica (David) Meeks, Erik Odegaard, Joshua (Marizona) Odegaard, Nathanael (Alisha) Ensor, Megan (Ben) Sulser, and Elliot (Kari) Ensor; and her twenty-eight great-grandchildren: Lucian, Lleyton, and Lauren; Logan, Nolan, and Tegan; Ethan, Emily, and Samuel; Cooper, Connor, and Olivia; Evrett, Benett, Zander, and Coralena; Polaris; Westley and Lyla; Norah; Ethan and Dean; Lily, Jackson, and Hazel; and Torin, Maudie, and Rafe. Visitation services will be held Monday, August 31, 2026, at the Bongarzone Funeral Home, 2400 Shafto Road, Tinton Falls, New Jersey, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. at Lincroft Bible Church, 790 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, New Jersey. Private Interment will be at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, New Jersey.