Obituary for May Ladestro (Johansson)
Maj-Britt “May”(Johansson) Ladestro, 87, died peacefully at her home on June 3, 2021, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. She was born in Hassleholm, Sweden, to the late Carl and Alma Ohlsson Johansson. She joins her beloved husband, Phil Ladestro, who died in 2007.
May was an adventurous traveler and left her family’s farm as soon as she finished school to live in Stockholm, London, and Zurich before emigrating to the U.S. in 1957. She began her U.S. life in Princeton, NJ, and also lived in Greenwich, Conn., and Los Angeles, Calif., and finally settled in Stamford when she met Phil at a YMCA dance and they married.
May was devoted to her family and her many close and life-long friends. She was a beloved grandmother who cherished all of the time she spent with her grandchildren, attending sporting events, concerts, birthday parties, and trips to camp whenever she could. She was an avid reader, an expert baker, and no-nonsense Swede who, as she said, used to “wrestle horses.” She remained close to her family in Sweden, taking regular trips there throughout her life.
She is survived by her children, Karen and her husband Steve Ostaszewski, of Stamford, CT, Sal Ladestro, of Palm Springs, CA, and Debbie and her husband Don Blome, of Vienna, Va. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Krista Ostaszewski and her husband John Beeler, Brian Ostaszewski and his fiance Denni Tookmanian, Kara Ostaszewski and her fiance Niko Pissanidis, Sarah Blome, Nicholas Blome and Carl Blome, as well as one great-grandchild, Jack Beeler Ostaszewski. Besides her husband, May was also predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Allan and Berit Johansson, and by her sister and brother-in-law Betty and Joe Mossa. She is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law, Toni O’Brien, of Stamford, Ralph and Guri LaDestro of Ellicott City, Md, Sal and Kathy LaDestro, of Stamford and many nieces and nephews and their families. She also leaves numerous members of the extended family and close friends, by whom she will be sorely missed.
Services will be held at a later date. To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to assist the Ladestro family with the arrangements.
May was an adventurous traveler and left her family’s farm as soon as she finished school to live in Stockholm, London, and Zurich before emigrating to the U.S. in 1957. She began her U.S. life in Princeton, NJ, and also lived in Greenwich, Conn., and Los Angeles, Calif., and finally settled in Stamford when she met Phil at a YMCA dance and they married.
May was devoted to her family and her many close and life-long friends. She was a beloved grandmother who cherished all of the time she spent with her grandchildren, attending sporting events, concerts, birthday parties, and trips to camp whenever she could. She was an avid reader, an expert baker, and no-nonsense Swede who, as she said, used to “wrestle horses.” She remained close to her family in Sweden, taking regular trips there throughout her life.
She is survived by her children, Karen and her husband Steve Ostaszewski, of Stamford, CT, Sal Ladestro, of Palm Springs, CA, and Debbie and her husband Don Blome, of Vienna, Va. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Krista Ostaszewski and her husband John Beeler, Brian Ostaszewski and his fiance Denni Tookmanian, Kara Ostaszewski and her fiance Niko Pissanidis, Sarah Blome, Nicholas Blome and Carl Blome, as well as one great-grandchild, Jack Beeler Ostaszewski. Besides her husband, May was also predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Allan and Berit Johansson, and by her sister and brother-in-law Betty and Joe Mossa. She is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law, Toni O’Brien, of Stamford, Ralph and Guri LaDestro of Ellicott City, Md, Sal and Kathy LaDestro, of Stamford and many nieces and nephews and their families. She also leaves numerous members of the extended family and close friends, by whom she will be sorely missed.
Services will be held at a later date. To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to assist the Ladestro family with the arrangements.