Jacqueline Ostergaard

Jacqueline McKnight Ostergaard, aged 95, formerly of Bear Creek Road, Fairview, died on December 5, 2021 at Sarah Reed Senior Living in Erie.  She was born in Stafford Springs, CT on November 5, 1926, daughter of the late Horace and Mildred Charter McKnight.

She was a graduate of Rockville High School and Simmons College School of Nursing, Boston, and held a Teaching Certificate from Fairleigh Dickenson University.  She began her career as a nurse at Greenwich, CT Visiting Nurses Association and continued at Cambridge, MA Visiting Nurses Association.

She and her husband, Paul B. Ostergaard moved from Syracuse, NY to West Caldwell, N.J. in 1960. She stayed home to raise their four children until 1974 when she returned to nursing at Gates Nursing Home, Montclair, NJ, and Crane’s Mill in West Caldwell, NJ. She was active in West Caldwell Presbyterian Church for many years, serving as a Deacon. When the church closed, she and Paul moved to Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, where she was also a Deacon. She loved giving to others and supported many area food pantries as a volunteer as well as being active in the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

She and Paul moved to the Erie area in 2002 to be closer to the family cottage on Lake Erie.  She became a member of Fairview Presbyterian Church. She was an avid reader, loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoyed international travel with her husband.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Ostergaard was preceded in death by a brother, John D. McKnight. 

She is survived by her husband, Paul B. Ostergaard whom she married November 24, 1951; two daughters, Trisha Ostergaard of New York, NY and Lisa O. Allendorph and her husband James of Delmar, NY; two sons, Hans P. Ostergaard and his wife Terry of Ellsworth, WI, and Niels C. Ostergaard and his wife Kathy of Columbus, IN; and a brother, L. James McKnight of East Long Meadow, MA.  She is further survived by six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Her body will be donated to science according with her wishes.  A Service of Celebration of her life will be held at a future date.  Arrangements entrusted to Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services Inc., Downtown, 602 W. 10th St., Erie.

Memorials may be made in her memory to the Erie City Mission, 209 East 9th Street, Erie, PA 16503, or to The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research, FDR Station, PO Box 220, New York, NY 10150.

Condolences may be sent to www.BurtonQuinnScott.com