Obituary of Astrid Elizabeth Ost

Astrid Elizabeth (Westberg) Ost, age 89, died Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at her home, surrounded by family. She was born and raised in Summit, NJ. In 1945, she and her husband, Rev. Roland R. Ost, newly appointed pastor of Wilson Memorial Union Church, moved to Watchung, where she lived for 67 years. During World War II, Astrid worked at Lawrence Engineering. She later worked for 30 years in marketing services at Ciba-Geigy. Devoted to her church, Astrid was active in the Women's Guild, volunteered at the Frippery Thrift Shop, and played the hand-bells in the Ost Memorial Ringers. For many years she also sang in the church choir and taught Sunday School. In the community she loved, she volunteered for the Watchung Rescue Squad and the Watchung Borough Election Board, was active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Watchung Volunteer Fire Department, and served as a Girl Scout Troop leader. Early on, she performed in productions of the Valley Players, a community theater company. She was well known for her "cookie ministry"-making surprise deliveries to her friends even at the bank, post office, doctors' offices, and, famously, for the annual church Habitat for Humanity mission trips. Astrid's beloved husband Roland died in 1975. One of six children born to John and Ellen Westberg, she is survived by her sister, Ruth Abel of West Brandywine, PA; her children, Ruth Ost of Philadelphia, Jane (Ost) and Dale Throneberry of Ann Arbor, and Paul Ost of Watchung. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jared Throneberry of Ann Arbor, Eric Ost of Brooklyn, Julie Ost of Washington, D.C., and their families; and one great grandson, Alex Throneberry-as well as many dear nieces, nephews and friends. There will be a memorial service at Wilson Memorial Union Church, 7 Valley Road in Watchung, N.J., at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 31st. A private burial will be at the Memorial Garden at Wilson Memorial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wilson Memorial Union Church.