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Johanna Marsman
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Johanna Marsman
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Johanna lived alone in her small two bedroom house that she had been in "for years".  How did she make it to 99 years old "stubbornness, that can work for you" ×
Johanna lived alone in her small two bedroom house that she had been in "for years".  How did she make it to 99 years old "stubbornness, that can work for you" ×
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Johanna said that as long as she was in her own home she would be fine, she could keep going and find enjoyment and purpose in life. ×
Johanna said that as long as she was in her own home she would be fine, she could keep going and find enjoyment and purpose in life. ×
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A walker helped to keep her steady but she always kept herself steady while keeping her one floor home emaculate. 

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A walker helped to keep her steady but she always kept herself steady while keeping her one floor home emaculate. 

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Johanna still did her own cooking and kept her mind sharp by doing the crossword every day and keeping well informed of world news. ×
Johanna still did her own cooking and kept her mind sharp by doing the crossword every day and keeping well informed of world news. ×
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Johanna can tell her of her memories as a child during the war where she lived in her native Holland. She tells of her parents who were medics and how they would help to treat and sometimes rescue kidnapped Jews from trains. She remembers knowing that it was the right and very brave thing to do.


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Johanna can tell her of her memories as a child during the war where she lived in her native Holland. She tells of her parents who were medics and how they would help to treat and sometimes rescue kidnapped Jews from trains. She remembers knowing that it was the right and very brave thing to do.


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In the states, she said there is no reason to be down or depressed or worst of all idle as we have freedom. ×
In the states, she said there is no reason to be down or depressed or worst of all idle as we have freedom. ×
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Her hands were no longer steady enough to enjoy her favorite past times. She said that it was a difficult and frustrating love to give up painting but instead of becoming depressed, she began to give her paintings away to make others happy. ×
Her hands were no longer steady enough to enjoy her favorite past times. She said that it was a difficult and frustrating love to give up painting but instead of becoming depressed, she began to give her paintings away to make others happy. ×
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On the day she turned 100, she welcomed the team of River Valley Visiting nurses to her home as well as her 75 year old daughter for a party. ×
On the day she turned 100, she welcomed the team of River Valley Visiting nurses to her home as well as her 75 year old daughter for a party. ×
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The nurses sign to Johanna and she is taken aback by the emotions she feels. ×
The nurses sign to Johanna and she is taken aback by the emotions she feels. ×
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She said she was not religious but she did sing in the church choir for years but because she so enjoyed the style of music. ×
She said she was not religious but she did sing in the church choir for years but because she so enjoyed the style of music. ×
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Johanna receives a 100th year birthday kiss from her 75 year old daughter
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Johanna receives a 100th year birthday kiss from her 75 year old daughter
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"that was a great party"

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"that was a great party"

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Nurse Pat has been tending to Johanna for over 20 years. She remembers when Johanna was in her mid 80's and decided to learn how to swim. Johanna would take Pat's kids to the lake everyday and swim across it.

Today she hears sounds she does not like in Johanna's lungs.

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Nurse Pat has been tending to Johanna for over 20 years. She remembers when Johanna was in her mid 80's and decided to learn how to swim. Johanna would take Pat's kids to the lake everyday and swim across it.

Today she hears sounds she does not like in Johanna's lungs.

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Johanna knew that she was not well. People would as her what it felt like to be 100. Johanna would say that after a certain age, your body betrays you every day. The trick was to not get angry but to find another way around the obstacle and stay determined.


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Johanna knew that she was not well. People would as her what it felt like to be 100. Johanna would say that after a certain age, your body betrays you every day. The trick was to not get angry but to find another way around the obstacle and stay determined.


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There was pressure to put her in a home "a prison" as she called it. She convinced the doctors to give her a test, if she could maneuver in a wheel chair in her house, she'd be allowed to stay.

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There was pressure to put her in a home "a prison" as she called it. She convinced the doctors to give her a test, if she could maneuver in a wheel chair in her house, she'd be allowed to stay.

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Her wheel chair could not fit in her bathroom and she was brought with her progressing pneumonia to a convalescent home two towns away from her house. ×
Her wheel chair could not fit in her bathroom and she was brought with her progressing pneumonia to a convalescent home two towns away from her house. ×
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The sense of defeat was overwhelming for Johanna. ×
The sense of defeat was overwhelming for Johanna. ×
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She felt helpless and afraid. It was hard to sleep and the thought of not seeing her home again and the life she had made her depressed "a dangerous emotion" ×
She felt helpless and afraid. It was hard to sleep and the thought of not seeing her home again and the life she had made her depressed "a dangerous emotion" ×
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Wanting with all of her might to try and overcome the growing weakness in her lungs she tried to give them exercise and told them to please get well. ×
Wanting with all of her might to try and overcome the growing weakness in her lungs she tried to give them exercise and told them to please get well. ×
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Johanna said that she knew how she would die. "I'll wake up and not be able to breath and that will be that...and well I'm ready"

Then in her Dutch matter of factness, she asked for two ice creams for lunch because "it was no time to be stingy"

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Johanna said that she knew how she would die. "I'll wake up and not be able to breath and that will be that...and well I'm ready"

Then in her Dutch matter of factness, she asked for two ice creams for lunch because "it was no time to be stingy"

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She watched the popes funeral on television that evening and said "Well maybe I'll see that man in a few days up there in heaven and we'll talk about things, maybe I'll be able to sing and paint again." ×
She watched the popes funeral on television that evening and said "Well maybe I'll see that man in a few days up there in heaven and we'll talk about things, maybe I'll be able to sing and paint again." ×
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Johanna passed away after that evening, just like she knew, without being able to take her next breath.

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Johanna passed away after that evening, just like she knew, without being able to take her next breath.

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Johanna Marsman

November 6, 1904 to April 20, 2005

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Johanna Marsman

November 6, 1904 to April 20, 2005

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Copyright © 2022 Nancy Dionne

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