Ester Johnson Rohner
Ester Johnson Rohner of Chocowinity, N.C., and formerly of Greenwood Lake, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016. She was 100 years old.
Born September 22, 1915, in West New York, N.J., Ester was the daughter of Bernhard and Elida (Lagman) Johnson.
Ester was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Erwin Rohner, who passed away in 2001. She also was predeceased by her sister Marion Modean and her brother Gilbert Johnson.
Following her graduation from Weehawken High School in 1932, Ester was employed by Loft’s Candy Store and a firm located in the Chrysler Building in New York City until she married Erwin Rohner on Sept. 9, 1939.
They lived in Chicago and St. Louis where their first two children were born, returning to New Jersey when World War II broke out.
They resided in Greenwood Lake from 1946 to 1973 where Ester was a Cub Scout den mother and a founding and active member of both Grace Lutheran Church and Greenwood Lake Little Theater.
Ester loved to sing and was a faithful member of the choir as well as a performer in theater musicals.
Ester and Erwin moved to Manasquan and Brielle, N.J., where she remained until 2008. She was active there with Meals on Wheels, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and entertaining the many grandchildren who loved visiting her at the Jersey Shore.
Ester is survived by her children, Sandra Rohner of Halfmoon, Ronald and Irene Rohner of Loudon, Tenn., Bruce and Cathy Rohner of Millsboro, Del., Laurel Rohner Fordyce of Brevard, N.C., Susan (Rohner) and Ed Baldesweiler of Chocowinity, N.C., and Jill Rohner of North Carolina; 18 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Ester made an anatomical gift of her body to the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be arranged in North Carolina and Greenwood Lake. Contact the family for details.
Memorial donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, PO Box 394, Greenwood Lake, NY 10925 or Community Home Care & Hospice of Washington, NC, 814 Washington St., Washington, NC 27889.