JOHNSON, Petronella (Nellie) Cornelia (Van Steen) ended a long, happy, fulfilling life, peacefully and surrounded by family on March 16, 2013. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands on April 9, 1915, Nellie married & moved to Canada as a war bride in 1946. Proud mother and loving grandmother, she spent many happy years as a busy community member in White Rock, BC.
A 60 year member of the Catholic Women's League and a devout Catholic, she was kind and generous to all she met. She avidly supported and helped with soup kitchens and food banks, filled backpacks for youth at Covenant House and made numerous quilts for Birthright up until her 97th year. Predeceased by her husband, Stephen, in 1988 and her 12 siblings in Holland, she is survived by family members in BC, Alberta and the Netherlands including her children, Jane (Rick); Jim (Sandy); her grandchildren Lisa (Gregory); Cara (Isaac); James (Marilyn); Kim (Shaun) and special niece Dorien (Pierre, Ghislain and Mathieu). The family would like to thank all the staff at Haven Hill Retirement Centre for all the great care they gave Nellie during her time in Penticton and her wonderful neighbours in the White Rock area for all their loving support over the years. Her smile and generous nature will be greatly missed by all who knew her. A funeral Mass will be held at 1pm on March 25, 2013 at Star of the Sea Church in White Rock, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favourite charity in Nellie's memory.