Astrid Marie Johnston, 41, of Austin, passed away on October 10, 2023. Her passing leaves a void that can never be filled.

If you knew her, you loved her. Astrid had an infectious smile and a kind heart. She brought love and comfort to everyone in her circle. A lover of art, animals, nature, photography, and the occult. She filled her life with beauty, color, love, magick, and moments. 

Astrid was born in El Paso on November 2, 1981. She lost her parents in a tragic accident four years later. With no remaining family, she grew up in the system, never finding a place where she felt at home. After high school, she made her way to Austin where she attended The Art Institute. While working on her degree, she started building a close group of witchy friends that would become her Austin family.

She met her "Partner in Crazy", Matthew, at an art event in Dallas in 2008. They quickly became an inseparable item. Three months later, Matthew visited her in Austin and never left. Both lovers of all things art and architecture, they spent the next few years traveling the world to see what they called 'The best of it.". This included their epic sailing mishap, which she said was their "best and worst" adventure. After a brief battle with cancer, she lost him in 2013. She never recovered from his loss and spoke of him and their adventures often. Together they traveled to multiple countries and took over 40,000 pictures. She always said that he showed her the world through a camera lens.

After his passing, she struggled with depression but overcame it with the help of her family of friends. She always said they saved her life by just showing her that they needed her in theirs. It was then that she started the weekly get-togethers for her blended family. Gatherings that still take place and will continue for years to come.

Passionate about her photography, and not a lover of having to follow a schedule, she opened her own photography business, which allowed her to work, while giving her the freedom to enjoy the world on her own terms. Over the years, her work allowed her to travel all over the United States, meet many fellow photographers, and gather a lengthy list of clients, of which many became her close friends.

She believed we all have the capacity to give to others, even if all you have to give is a smile and a kind word. She loved being around people and would often volunteer at city events, libraries, and orphanages. She worked closely with a veteran's support group and a domestic violence support group. As an avid animal lover, she also spent a lot of time volunteering at animal shelters.

In 2017, her inner circle grew to include her Houston family. She started living and working between the two cities to make time for them all. During this period, she developed a great love for long car rides, and would often drive to random places with her camera, just to see what she would find. She loved her little adventures, as she called them, and gathered pictures and small tokens from dozens of Texas towns along the way. She made friends wherever she went, and often came back days later because she stayed over somewhere to do someone's pictures. She loved capturing what she deemed "human moments" and was always looking for the opportunity to help someone capture theirs.

She always believed that the best family you can have is the one you get to choose. With very little effort, her Austin and Houston family became one and spent almost every weekend together. She loved planning the weekly "Happening" and took great joy in constantly surprising us with her silly antics once we were together. From camping adventures, to paintball battles, and movie nights, she made every family event one to remember. She always said she was lucky, that we all got along so well so that she could have all her favorite peeps together. We were the lucky ones though, because she brought us all together.

Astrid was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Matthew; and her brother, David.

She is survived by her partner Callie, her furbabies Scooby Doo and Merlin, her coven witches, and the Lost Boys. She will be forever missed.

A private, family gathering will be held on:

Friday, October 13th, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

A Prayer to Hel and an Invocation to Hekate will be held by her Coven on:

Tuesday, October 31st, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to one of her favorite causes below.

https://dreamingzebra.org/ind…

https://www.austintexas.gov/d…

https://www.texasstateaquariu…

https://www.tpwf.org/

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