Obituary of Janet L. Ekdahl

Janet L. Ekdahl, 69, of Freehold died Friday, October 5, 2007 at home. She was born in Freehold and was a lifelong resident. Janet was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, Freehold where she served as a deacon, a member of the church session, and the women’s circle. She had a lifelong passion for things of beauty. She was a 4H member throughout her youth where she designed and modeled eye-catching clothes competitively. She had a strong family history of gardening and tending to creative and beautiful flower gardens. Janet was a gentle woman who enjoyed her family and friends. She loved all things in nature and had a passion for photography, art, flowers, birds and animals. She surrounded herself with things of visual beauty throughout her entire life. She married Paul Ekdahl in 1957 and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. She and Paul started a greenhouse business in 1963. Janet had a large hand in building their home on Dutch Lane Road and had her share of working on a scaffold. She actively participated in the Women’s Farm Bureau, 4-H Alumnae, Freehold Beautiful, Inc., Master Gardeners, and the Tole Painting Society and was a Cooperative Weather Observer for over 40 years. She was predeceased by her brother, Rev. Kenneth Matthews in 1994 who was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Freehold. Surviving are her husband, Paul; their children, Timothy and his wife Patty; Dawn, and Wendy and her husband Patrick McCooey; and three grandchildren, Kevin Ekdahl, Isabella and Bridgette McCooey. Calling hours will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Sunday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 118 West Main Street, Freehold on Monday at 10:30 a.m. followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund would be appreciated.