Johanna P. Veerman's Obituary
A celebration of the life of Johanna Veerman nee Pattes, 83, will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at Greenwood Memorial Park & Mortuary, 4300 Imperial Avenue, San Diego. The family will receive visitors beginning at 8:00 a.m., with a memorial service to follow at 10 a.m. At 11:30 a.m. after the service, luncheon will be served at the home of Michele and Jules Arthur, 2110 Guy Street, San Diego.Johanna was born on April 2, 1936 in Velsen, Netherlands. She spent her formative years in the Netherlands and Indonesia before emigrating to the United States when she was 20 years old, arriving by boat in New York before taking a train across the country to California. She was a truly exceptional daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many.Throughout her whole life, Johanna had a tremendous work ethic and held numerous jobs. Two of her most notable positions were an attendant in the glass elevator adorning the outside of the historic El Cortez Hotel and a nanny for the family of the famous Hollywood movie star, Danny Kaye. Johanna was also an incredibly talented artist who, under different circumstances, might have made a full-time career as a painter. Her specialty was oil painting, and she was always willing to do a commission whenever family members and friends requested one.Johanna bore three daughters – Jacqueline, Roberta and Janet – before meeting the man with whom she would spend the next 54 years until her death: Henri Rudolph Veerman. They were married in 1965 and had two children together – Michele and Paul. Henri and Johanna’s marriage was a true love story bound by their Dutch heritage. Raising five children under the age of 12 was not easy, and when Henri had to move for work, Johanna was always supportive. This even included moving the family to the remote island of Adak, Alaska for six years.Johanna’s life was her family. She will be dearly missed by her husband and the love of her life, Henri Veerman; by her children, Jacqueline Mahfouz and husband Rich, Roberta Lee, Janet Watkins and husband Bob, Michele Arthur and husband Jules, and Paul Veerman and wife Endia; by her 14 grandchildren, Robert, Justin, Brian, Nicole, Jaime, Katy, Paul, Jevin, Austin, Alex, Liam, Juliette, Aiden, and Scarlett; and by her six great-grandchildren.Johanna is now reunited in heaven with her parents, Johannes and Janetje Pattes, and with other family members Harry and Kay Veerman, Olaf Veerman, Wynand and Elly Aalsbersberg, Emma Veerman, and Elias and Cory Veerman. We are sure they are all elated to see her!The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to her special caregiver, Monica Lepe, who gave her such comfort and loving care in her final three weeks.
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