Doris G. Ostergren

Doris Greta Ostergren, wife, mother, grandmother, artist, passes away at age 91, on December 16th, 2025.
Born in NYC, Doris was a polio survivor. Against the standard of medical practice at the time, Doris avoided the iron lung and casts. Instead, her mother used Swedish massage and what we know today as physical therapy to recover Doris's ability to walk.
At 19, Doris married Rolf E. Ostergren her beloved husband of 58 years. She had 3 children. In her early years, she owned a small business selling artisan copperware. She enjoyed home décor, crafts, sewing, cooking, flower arranging and photography. She lived in Branchburg for over 50 years and was an active member of the Branchburg Woman's Club. She researched and compiled a book on the history of Old York Road for the Woman's Club.
In her 60's, Doris discovered her ability to paint using acrylicsand watercolor. She won local awards for her landscape canvases. She painted covered bridges, farmhouses, and seascapes. She was inspired by the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound near Quogue, Long Island and West Hampton beach. She visited her Uncle's home in Quogue and inherited the home with her sister Ingrid. Doris really wanted to be a mermaid.
In her later years, she used colored pencils as her medium. She created intricate designs using shading techniques. Doris gave her creations to her fellow residents and staff at her care facility. Doris said it kept her mind sharp by working with color every day.
Doris is survived by her sister Ingrid Weiser of Long Island, her son Roy Ostergren and his wife Julie, her daughter Jill Cookingham and her husband Jim, and her youngest Amy Larsson. Doris's grandchildren are Dann Ostergren and his wife Michelle, Elena Ostergren, Brittany Anderson, Taylor Anderson, Wesley Cookingham, Michael Cookingham and his wife Cara. Her great grandchildren are Adriano, Dominic, Kayleigh and Avery.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 4-7pm on December 23rdwith prayer services at 6pm at the Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home, 111 N. Gaston Ave, Somerville NJ 08876.
Donations in her honor can be made to the Kelsey Charity Run Inc. 893 Amwell Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844 and March of Dimes. To send condolences to the family, visit brucecvanarsdalefuneralhome.com.