In 1868, Theodor Janzon got his high school diploma. He passed his theology exam on January 31, 1870. He was ordained on December 22, 1872, and became an assistant vicar in Östhammar on September 8, 1873. He took over as the vicar in 1874.

In November 1875, Theodor moved from Sånga, Stockholm County, to Lindby Rote Prestgård, Adelsö, Stockholm.

Johan was the first Swedish priest to join the Godtemplarorden (International Organisation of Good Templars - IOGT). The Swedish chapter was formed on November 5, 1879, in Göteborg.

Theodor had a tough time with illness and poverty. His family had seven children.

When her husband passed away, she was left alone with seven children. The youngest child was adopted by the vicar, Karl Fries. The other children then lived with their mother in Uppsala. Times were tough. Ida wrote a letter to the Freemasonry orphanage Directorate in Stockholm, requesting help to care for her children.

The letter loosely translated letter from Swedish letter, see below.
Copy of documents from the Stockholm City archives / Ida Jansson-Öller.

“To Freemasonry orphanage Directorate, Stockholm
Ester Hildur Charlotta inmate under No 10902

In accordance with the advice of several esteemed individuals, including Mr. Dean et al. Torén, I humbly request that my son, Per Axel Theodor, and my daughter, Ester Hildur Charlotta, be registered with the Freemason orphanage.

After ten and a half years of marriage, I became a widow on April 1, 1886. Consequently, I am left alone to care for seven children, with the nine-year-old Axel being the eldest and the youngest having been born on March 10, 1886.

Our income from the priest’s work is 700 Kr per year, in addition to the annual rent of 300 Kr for our housing. Despite our utmost thrift and self-denial, this income has proven insufficient to support our large family. Three years ago, we were compelled to declare bankruptcy and relinquish our house to our creditors.

While I am hopeful that I may still receive an income from the priest’s fund, I will be forced to rely on the generosity and compassion of others for additional financial assistance. However, it is important to note that the priest’s payment is insufficient to cover the expenses of a funeral. It will only be after this period that I will be financially stable and deserving of support from the diocesan fund and ward money.

Given the daily and hourly responsibilities that my children bear to support the family, the Executive Board may consider that the income is insufficient. It has been informed to me that children over the age of eight are only accepted into the Freemason orphanage as exceptions. Therefore, I kindly request that the Directorate consider my circumstances and provide educational and mentoring support for my oldest child.

I refer the Directorate to a letter that will be sent by Vicar and Philosopher-Doctor F Flemming in Börsil to a member of the Directorate.

Attached to this letter are the vicar’s certificate, children’s baptismal records, and a medical certificate from a doctor.

Sincerely,
Ida Janzon
Born Öller
Widow of Chaplain and Assistant Pastor in Östhammar, J F Theodor Janzon “

Renskrivning av dokument från Stadsarkivet i Stockholm /Ida Jansson-Öller

“Till Frimurare barnhemmets Direktion, Stockholm
Ester Hildur Charlotta intagen under No 10902

På inrådan af åtskillege välvillige personer, bland dem Herr Domprosten m.m. l.d. Torén, vågar jag i all ödmjukhet härmed bidja att min son Per Axel Theodor född 29/8 1876 och min dotter Ester Hildur Charlotta född den 8/6 1879 måtte blifva upptagna å Frimurarebarnhemmet. Efter 10 ½ års äktenskap blev jag enka den 1ste dennes, och därmed lemnades åt mig ensam att försörja 7 barn af vilka den 9 årige Axel är äldst och det yngsta föddes den 10 de Mars i år. Inkomsterna av prestsysslan här utgör 700 kr. jemte boställe, för hvilket arrendator betalar 300 kr årligen. Med den största sparsamhet och försakelse, hafva dessa inkomster varit otillräcklige för en så stor familjs underhåll, havden min man och jag för 3 år sedan nödgades att genom konkurs öferlemna vårt bo till våra fodringsägare. Föräven den tid jag skall och möjligen får bibehålla inkomsterna af prestgället tilländagått, är jag i det närmaste hänvisad till medmenniskors barmhärtighet i ty öfverskottet af inkomsterna, ge att t.f presterna blifvit aflönade, är ej en tillnärmande tillräcklig för den torftigaste begravning, - och först efter denna tid lärer jag kunna komma i åtnjutning af något understöd från stiftets presterskaps Enke och pupillkassa. Att med så många barn, hvilka dagligen och stundligen taga mig i anspråk, kunna genom att arbete synnerligen bidraga till vårt uppehälle det finner nog Direktionen vara lite utsigt till.
Wäl har det blifvit mig sagde att barn öfver 8 år endast undantagen intages på Frimurare barnhuset, men då det lärer finnas en möjlighet att så kan ske, wågar jag på det bevekligaste bedja Direktjonen behjärta svårigheterna för mig att kunna uppfostra och handleda just mitt äldsta barn.
Jag wågar hänvisa Direktjonen till den skrifvekse, som Kyrkoheden och Filosof-Docktorn F. Flemming i Börsil (?) benäget lofvat tillsända en ledamot af Direktjonen.
Herr Kyrkoherden m.m. Bergman Föreskrivna prestbetyg, barnens dopsedel samt intyg av läkare bifogas.

Östhammar den 30 April 1886

Ödmjukas
Ida Janzon
Född Öller
Änka efter Kommunister och v pastor i Östhammar J F Theodor Janzon.” ,

The Good Templars made every effort to assist Ida Öller, including organising a fundraiser for her children. Although the exact amount raised is uncertain, it likely provided substantial financial support.

Ida Öller was an extraordinary woman. She established a school for mentally disabled children and was recognised for her efforts with an award. Ida was the daughter of a priest, and in the 19th century, rectories often served as rudimentary healthcare facilities. While the priest was responsible for spiritual care, the wife and daughters were entrusted with the physical well-being of the community. Ida drew from her experiences in these settings when she founded her nursing home.

On April 10, 1907, Ida, along with her daughters Inez and Hildur, left Uppsala and moved to Storgården in Vika, Dalarna. Tyra followed suit on May 8, 1908, moving from Varberg to Storgården in Vika, Dalarna. In 1917, Ida decided to move from Vika to Ärtemark, Ödeborg.

Upon her burial, the chairman of the city council, R. Hagberg, delivered the following eulogy:
Loosely translated from Swedish.

“I did not have the personal privilege of knowing Pastor Janzon. He passed away on April 1, 1886, and I arrived here in August of that year. However, I was acquainted with Mrs. Janzon personally because I frequented her home for several years. I came to know her as a cheerful and kind individual, who, despite the numerous challenges she encountered, consistently maintained a positive outlook on life.”12