Karolina W. Klaauwer

Karolina W. Klaauwer, age 89, of Trumansburg, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children on Saturday, December 23, 2018.

Karolina, a daughter of the late Franz Josef and Jeanette Wilhelmina Janssie (Marleen) Martens, was born in Poerwokerto, Dutch East Indies on August 3, 1929. Her schooling ended when the Japanese Empire occupied the Dutch East Indies during WWII followed by the Indonesian National Revolution. Karolina moved to the Netherlands shortly after the war ended. In October of 1956 she married Johannes ‶John″ Klaauwer. In 1958 they relocated to Curaçao, where Johannes was stationed as an officer of the Dutch Navy, returning to the Netherlands two years later. After relocating in 1962 to California, Karolina worked for Electronic Memories, where she was chosen to work on a special NASA project, and later Magnavox. As a child she sang in the church choir, and through the years she retained her beautiful voice. She was an avid football fan, so much so that she made it a point to travel to the NFL Football Hall of Fame in Ohio. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, knitting, crocheting, music, competitive dancing with Johannes, playing a mean game of badminton or ping pong, green thumb gardening, being a gourmet chef, and later in life, ‶going on the bus″ and to ‶the bowling alley″.

She is survived by her son, John M. Klaauwer, and her daughter and son-in-law, Jeanette K. (Klaauwer) and Brent P. Forker, all of Trumansburg; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Saskia M. (Vysma) and Anthony D. Ferreira of Vancouver, WA; great-granddaughter, Adelaide C. Ferreira; her sister, Mrs N. DeHaas of Lake Hughes, CA; sister-in-law Rita Vysma of Westminster, CA; many nieces and nephews in CA, AZ, The Netherlands and Indonesia; as well as many great-nieces and nephews and their children throughout the world. Karolina was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Johannes W. Klaauwer; her son, Glenn Roy Vysma; her sisters Ruth, Helene, Francisca, Wies, and Willy; her brothers Karl, Edward, Eugene, Gerard, and George.

Karolina was endearing to many who knew her as ‶Oma″ and ‶Mama″, and will be remembered for her everlasting zest for life and her magic in the kitchen. She was funny, a storyteller, a strong and determined lady, who was genuinely an integral part in the lives of those who knew and loved her. Don❜t be surprised if you hear her whisper her famous phrase, ‶Are you ok? Just checking″ now and then!

Memorial Services will be held privately at Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, officiated by Pastor Foote of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ithaca, NY.

In her memory kindly consider a donation to the Hospicare of Seneca County; Loaves and Fishes of Ithaca; or the Beverly Animal Shelter in Waterloo, NY.