Johanna Barbara Onderwater, age 104, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2007 at her home at Country Meadows in Sedro-Woolley, WA.
She was the youngest of 13 children born on September 10, 1902 in Holland, the daughter of Petres and Barbara Koppert Kievert.
Johanna grew up in Holland and attended school there. She had many talents, among them, was playing the piano which she enjoyed doing for many years.
She married John Onderwater on June 23, 1923 in Holland. They immigrated to the United States seven months before the Invasion of Europe during WWII. She traveled with her husband until finally settling in Mount Vernon in 1941.
She was a very proud woman and told people ‘It was never too late to start over.’ She exemplified this after her husband, John died in 1961. At the age of 60 she trained in real estate, selling successfully until she was 79.
The Onderwater’s who were childless sponsored William Roozen and his wife Helen and Henry DeGoede to come to this country. Both worked for the Onderwaters for years before striking out on their own.
For the past 13 years, she has resided in Sedro-Woolley. Johanna was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.
She is survived by her two god-children, Diana Jansen and Lisette Roozen-Mast of Mount Vernon, and Jack DeGoede of Mossy Rock. Also special friends, Jean Jansen and Helen Roozen. We want to thank the staff at Country Meadows for all their care, love and support to Johanna. Thank you also to the ladies of Immaculate Heart of Mary who provide her with religious support in her later years.
A Rosary will be recited prior to the funeral mass at 10:30 A.M. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 2, 2007 at 11:00AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Sedro-Woolley with Father J. Patrick McDermott as celebrant. Interment will follow at Hawthorne Memorial Cemetery in Mount Vernon. Service and arrangement under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.