Obituary of Johanna Vierboom Williams

JOHANNA (VIERBOOM) WILLIAMS August 11, 1944 - January 27, 2018 New Windsor, NY Johanna (Vierboom) Williams of New Windsor, NY passed away Saturday, January 27th, 2018 at the age of 73. She entered peacefully into rest at home, surrounded by the comfort and love of her husband of 48 years. Born to Dorothy (Hortense) and John Vierboom on August 11th, 1944, Johanna grew up in Newburgh, graduating from Newburgh Free Academy in 1962 before going on to Buffalo State University, to pursue her dream of being a teacher. Upon receiving her degree, she returned home to New Windsor and taught at Gidney Avenue Elementary (Newburgh) before taking a hiatus, where, as a loving mother and wife, she focused on her family, and served as the Vice-President of Pleasant Acres Nursery. Teaching eventually beckoned her return and she enjoyed the remainder of her career as a first-grade teacher at Vails Gate Magnet School (New Windsor.) While passionate about education and the many young minds she had the privilege of teaching, what Johanna always wanted most was to be a wife and mother. She got that chance when, on June 22nd, 1969 she married Bruce I. Williams at Grace United Methodist Church. The birth of her daughter followed a few years later. Throughout her life, Johanna loved to read. As a child, she much preferred getting lost in books to getting lost in the woods. As an adult, she wished to instill that love of reading in children through her teaching and was always generous in sharing books with young friends and family members. In retirement, Johanna was afforded the time to enjoy her reading, as well as doing word-games, watching the birds feed and wildlife strolling through her yard and splitting time between HGTV and one of the news channels. Johanna is survived by her husband, Bruce; daughter, Kristin; sister, Jacqueline Vierboom; niece, Marissa (Vierboom) Grove and her husband, Michael, along with their two children, Brian and Clara (Grove); sister-in-law, Diane (Williams), her husband Hal, niece, Kimberley and nephew, Brett; and life-long friends Nancy and Joel Barker. She will be greatly missed by her extended family and friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 1st, 2018 at Hudson Valley Funeral Home, 239, Quassaick Ave.,(Rte. 94) New Windsor. Funeral services are planned for 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 2nd, 2018, also at the funeral home, with burial to follow immediately at Woodlawn Cemetery, New Windsor. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made in memory of Johanna to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis TN 38105-9959 / www.stjude.org) or any organization of your choice.