Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....Koemans , Charlotte Meader January 29, 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com February 5, 2006, 10:27 pm The Bakersfield Californian Koemans, Charlotte Meader Charlotte Meader Koemans At 11 p.m. Sunday evening, January 29, 2006, Charlotte Koemans was reunited with her husband Walt in the heavens above. Although devastated, we rejoice in her freedom from the confines of Alzheimer's, which has been her torment the last 5 years. In honor of mom's wishes, her cremated remains will be scattered over the Pacific; she wanted no formal services. Born July 17, 1923 in Providence, Rhode Island, a banker's daughter, mom lived a privileged childhood of summer camps, private girls high school, and proper New England etiquette. As college beckoned, and wanting desperately to be free of parental restrictions, she begged for and finally received her parents' permission to attend college in Iowa. All was fine and as it should be until she caught the eye of a debonair classmate, romance blossomed, and, every parent's worst nightmare, she dropped out of college and married. Three children and 10 years later, the marriage unraveled in San Francisco. Times were tough, but fate intervened when she met an Indonesian immigrant, Walt Koemans. Two lonely souls found comfort, and then love, in one another. Dad found work in Santa Barbara, mom followed, and they decided they liked the place (ya think?!) and stayed. In 1954 they married; built a beautiful home. Dad was a well-respected civil engineer/surveyor; mom was always Walt's wife and mother to their 2 daughters. Time passed; the children left home; they shared a few wonderful years of dad's retirement traveling together before cancer took him in 1991. It was with admiration then that her children watched her, alone and a widow at 68, evolve into a mostly independent woman, this woman who had always been a wife and mother. She was an active "pink lady" at Cottage Hospital, volunteered with Hospice, was a dedicated blood donor; traveled with her dear friend Dorothea to such places as Alaska and the Panama Canal. She relished this independent life she'd established, interspersed with frequent visits from children and grandchildren, who quickly learned that grandma welcomed you only after verifying your feet were tar- and sand-free(from days at the beach). She kept a tidy home. In 2001, subtle changes in her abilities and memory became apparent. A diagnosis of Alzheimer's was made, which was devastating; she would slowly lose her mind and nothing could be done to prevent it. It became even more devastating with the progression of this terrible disease, and the realization that mom simply could not continue living independently. And then we had to convince her. She was angry and distraught to be moved from idyllic Santa Barbara (can't say that I blame her), to Bakersfield, where her daughters could keep a more watchful eye. Rosewood Retirement Community became her residence; she railed against the indignity of it all, declaring "That place will never be my home!" But as time passed and Alzheimer's progressed, she came to feel safe and comfortable in her room there; "the girls" (she could never remember their names) at Rosewood took good care of her. Fortunately for mom, more agonizingly for us, Alzheimer's advanced aggressively late last year, and she was moved to the Health Care Facility. Rosewood provided well for her; additionally supported by Hoffman Hospice, mom was provided as much dignity as possible at the end. Thank you. She leaves behind a heart-broken legacy of family; 5 children, Phil Penningroth of Longmont, CO; Steve Penningroth of Trumansburg, NY; Annette Donner of Costa Mesa, CA; Cindy Reese and Judi Koemans of Bakersfield, CA; their respective spouses; 13 grandchildren, of whom she was so proud, Sean, Lara; Chris, Paige; Dylan, Ailey; Jennifer, Jeff, Tim; Jessica, Cody, Adam; eight great-grandchildren. We love her so. In the end, mom went as I imagine she believed a proper New Englander should go, quietly, unassuming, without any fanfare; she just quietly slipped away in the dark of night. Two of her daughters held her hands. She was so tired; she'd battled bravely. If there are beaches and back roads in heaven to be explored, we believe that's where you'll find mom and dad. He is cancer-free, she can remember everything; they're together again and life is grand. These are happy tears we cry. Legacy.com Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 2/5/2006. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased No other information available from submitter. Obituaries http://www.legacy.com/bakersfield/LegacyHome.asp File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/k/koemans1990gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb