The family of Astrid Wenzel wishes to thank the parishioners of not only All Saints’ but of St. Thomas Church as well for your outpouring of love during this difficult time for us. Her obituary is below. One of the many recent joys Mom had was to watch this home movie as was recently discovered on Youtube. It is Harrison in early 1940 and Mom had just turned 15. Watching this, she rattled off the names of many and recalled practically every business that is shown in town. Here’s the link…enjoy this step back in time!
Astrid Wenzel
Born Astrid Aurora Gronlund in Mamaroneck on February 21, 1925 she died peacefully at Greenwich Hospital on June 7, 2020 at the age of 95.
The only child of Artur Grönlund and Aurora Justiina Peltoniemi, immigrants from Finland, Astrid was baptized in a Swedish Lutheran church in the Bronx, grew up in Harrison and graduated from Harrison High School in 1942. After completing the Washington Secretarial School in New York City, she became the personal assistant of Louis M. Klein, Superintendent of Harrison Schools. In 1952 she married her former classmate, John S. Wenzel at All Saints’ Church in Harrison and they raised a family in the house she helped her father build in Rye.
Astrid stayed home to care for her two sons and aging father until his death in 1974. At this time John became a partner in the House of Light/Northeastern Wholesalers in Mamaroneck, and Astrid assumed the role of credit manager where she worked until they retired in 1991. In 1996 they moved permanently to Hilton Head Island/Bluffton, South Carolina.
Astrid had many interests including gardening, playing the piano, scouting, golf, bridge, oil painting, lawn bowling, fishing, and taking care of her dogs.
Predeceased by her husband John in 2014, she is survived by her sons Arthur (Danuta) and Scott of Rye, and grandchildren Stefan, Paul, Catherine and John, as well as her beloved rescue dog Chloe and countless cousins here and in Finland.
As a lifetime faithful parishioner, the family requests that donations be made to All Saints’ Church, 300 Harrison Ave, Harrison, NY 10528.