Erna Oline Johnson, aged 86 of Milpitas, passed away in San Jose, California on November 30, 2022. Erna was born in San Diego, California to her parents, Faye Ruth and Gunnar E. Hansen, and grew up with her siblings Adrian, DeeDee, Bill, and Jerry. She married Bruce Johnson on New Year’s Eve in1955 and had three vibrant children, Michael, Julie, and Sherry.
In 1964 the family moved from Los Angeles to San Jose where Erna opened a home-based daycare, Erna’s Little Darlings, that served both the children in her community and her grandchildren for 30+ years. In retirement, Bruce and Erna packed up their East Foothills home and moved to Gig Harbor, Washington before moving back to San Jose to be closer to their family. Erna loved reading, sewing and word-search puzzles.
Erna is survived by her brother, Jerry, her daughter, Sherry (Greg Duarte), her daughter-in-law, Diana Johnson, her son-in-law, Dennis Montellato, nine grandchildren (and spouses), and ten great grandchildren. She was also Aunt Erna to 20+ nieces and nephews. Erna is preceded in death by her husband (2016), Michael and Julie (2021), Adrian (1983), Bill (2010) and DeeDee (2016).
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2023 p.m. at Lima Family Erickson Memorial Chapel, 710 Willow Street, San Jose. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Heart Association.
