Margareta E. (Johnson) Hedberg, known as Greta, of Westhampton died at home on September 23, after a long journey through Alzheimer’s. She was 78.
Ms. Hedberg was born at Southampton Hospital on December 6, 1935, to Ilse M. and Anton E. Johnson of Westhampton Beach, and she grew up in the local area. She was a 1953 graduate of Westhampton Beach schools and completed her associate’s degree at Farmingdale A&T. Subsequently she worked in advertising as a senior administrative assistant before marrying Charles “Chic” Hedberg and moving out to California, where he was stationed as a naval aviator. The young couple returned east in 1958 to raise their children and be closer to family.
A gifted pianist, Ms. Hedberg was a lifelong active member of Beach United Methodist Church, where generations heard her play; she also taught Sunday school and quietly contributed to the life of the church. She was a co-founder of Westhampton Cultural Consortium, was the 2008 recipient of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. award from the First Baptist Church of Riverhead, and was honored by the Long Island Council of Churches in 2009 for lifetime volunteer contributions. With her husband, she was an early leader in the local environmental movement and other social causes.
Ms. Hedberg is survived by her husband of 56 years, Charles; a daughter, Victoria Kingwell and husband Dennis, of Manor Park; a son, Viking and wife Katie of New Hampshire; a brother, Christian Johnson and wife Sherry of New Jersey; four grandchildren, Laura and Carolyn Ceruti and Andrew and Woodrow Hedberg; and two great-grandchildren, Alex and Anthony.
Visiting hours will be at the Follett and Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach on Friday, October 3, from 7 to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Beach United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 4, at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10001, or Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, 550 East Main Street, Suite 100, Riverhead, NY 11901.
on Oct 6, 2014