Jon Raymond Ojala, 73, passed away on July 5, 2025, in Essex Junction, Vt. Born on May 21, 1952, in Daytona Beach, Fla., Jon was known for his profound kindness, unwavering faith, strength, generosity and integrity. Whenever asked what he wanted, he always said, “World Peace.”
Jon and his family moved to Vermont in 1967, where he attended Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, graduating in 1970. He furthered his education by attending Upsala College and the University of Vermont. He dedicated many years of service to IBM, where he was respected and valued.
Jon was a passionate history buff and took great pleasure in genealogy, often spending hours tracing family lineages and historical facts. Jon was an avid hiker who found peace and purpose on Vermont’s trails.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Norma (Bister); their children, Laurie Free (Randy) and children Maverick and Evynn; Jeffrey (Jill) and children Addy and Izzy; and Eric (Cate) and children Cal and Cillian. Jon also leaves behind his sisters-in-law Sharon James, Marilyn Thomas (Grant) and Janet Knutsen (Roy); brother-in-law Fred Burbank; and many nieces and nephews.
Jon was predeceased by his parents, John and Mildred Ojala; stepmother, Joan; father- and mother-in-law, William and Joyce Bister; sister-in-law Peggy Burbank; brother-in-law Bill James; and nephew Hardy Macia.
Services will be held on July 19, 2025, 11 a.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at 73 Essex Way, Essex, VT.
To honor Jon and in keeping with Jon’s lifelong practice of kindness, the family would like to suggest that acts of kindness be performed in his name. This gesture reflects Jon’s enduring legacy of generosity and love.
The family would like to thank all of Jon’s health care team, especially Dr. Mel Gibson, Dr. Trace Barrett, Laurie Davignon and Margaret Butler for the wonderful care they provided.
“How lucky we are to have had something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — A.A. Milne
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2025.