Hjordis Owens

Archer - It is with much love and tenderness that the family of Hjordis Owens announces that she passed away peacefully on November 5, 2024 at the age of 79 after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Kim Owens, and children, Kristen Collins, Keith Parks (wife Mary Ann), Karissa Owens DeFeo (husband Darren), Kandice Owens and Kyle Owens (wife Alicia). Hjordis was the proud grandmother of 9 grandchildren, Madison, Alexis, Conner, Ciara, Justin, Ryan, Arianna, Rio and Christopher, and will be remembered for her warm smile and faithful devotion to God.

Hjordis was born in New York to a Swedish immigrant, Carl, and his wife, Louise, who spent their lives working in the mission field. Hjordis was one of four siblings, Linnea, Karin and Nils Erik. She grew up in Miami, where she discovered a love for the local foliage and Bromeliads in particular. She graduated from East Noble High School in Indiana in 1963 and later returned to the tropical climate of Miami where she developed a green thumb, ultimately becoming certified as a Master Gardener.

One balmy night in Miami, a former Marine turned landscaper introduced himself to Hjordis and they spent the evening talking. Somewhere in that conversation, they both decided to spend the rest of their lives together, ultimately moving north to make a home for their family in the quiet calm amongst the mossy oak trees of Bronson, Florida. They were surrounded by nature and the many varieties of plants that Hjordis rehabilitated and nurtured over the years.

Hjordis was also known to collect pets, often advocating (successfully) to bring home a new and unexpected two or four-legged friend. Over the years, the additions included everything from common farm animals to a loyal and very protective pet goose that followed Hjordis around the yard. The animals adored her, as did everyone who encountered her sweet and gentle spirit. She loved to socialize, almost as much as she loved trips with her daughters to the mall. Friends would often drop in to visit, hoping they had timed their arrival to coincide with a freshly baked batch of Hjordis' homemade sourdough bread, a recipe her kids are still trying to recreate.

Hjordis was warm and radiant with a quick smile, but also had a strength that manifested in her work ethic and ability to run a household along with 7.5 acres full of plants, animals and children who were sometimes wilder than the animals. When all of her kids had grown and her husband brought home his new Harley Davidson, Hjordis went out and bought her own Harley so that she could drive alongside him. She wanted her own!

In addition to her husband, children, grandchildren and siblings, Hjordis is survived by many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. She will be missed by all.

Plans are underway for a peaceful remembrance ceremony to honor Hjordis' memory and the impact she had on so many lives. Please contact the family for details.