Always the artist, Kristy designed and sewed her wedding gown of lavender satin covered with white rose lace. She designed Nellie’s apparel and Kathleen designed her dress as well. While growing up, Kristy was reminded of her distant cousin Jessica McClintock whose dress designs were and are currently world famous. George, Kathleen, Kristy and Jessica were born and raised in Aroostook County in northern Maine.

Sven was born in Kingston, NY and resided in Chichester until he married his first wife Hazel who bore him two sons, Martin and David.

This portrait was exhibited in national and international art shows, such as the 1977 Fifth Annual Pastel Society of America in NYC and other venues in New England.

Sven and Kristy married in 1980 and had a child in 1982, Stacey Lynn Johnson. Stacey was Sven’s “Little Princess” and she was creative like her mother, winning art contests throughout her school days. Currently, Stacey works for the State of New York, as an Associate Budgeting Analyst.

Kristy and Sven were Legally Separated in 1993 and divorced in 1995.

Neither Kristy nor Sven remarried. Over the years, they celebrated holidays with each other and other family members. At Sven’s passing, Kristy painted the painting (pictured above) while using a recent photograph taken by the Hubble Telescope named “Heaven’s Gate” by scientists. It was exhibited at Sven’s funeral (spearheaded by Stacey Johnson) at Buono’s Funeral Service, Inc.,  Saugerties, NY on Aug. 14, 2020. His remains were buried at the cemetery in Shandaken along side his mother Nellie and his father Raymond Johnson.

Rest in Peace, Sven.