Johanna Pauline Byl

She was born January 16, 1928, to Willem and Cornelia in Maassluis, Netherlands. Johanna was an accomplished seamstress who had been trained in French pattern making. In her youth Johanna sewed the clothes for her brothers and sisters. As a young mother in the Netherlands, she would knit woolen underwear and beautifully patterned wool kneesocks for her two eldest children and sewed many of their clothes. After moving to the United States Johanna continued sewing and knitting, did beautiful embroidery, and worked part time as a seamstress for several shops. Her skills in alterations were put to good use for her two younger children as well. Her entries in the Ventura County Fair won blue and red ribbons for her needlework over many years. Johanna often knit beautiful slippers for herself and family members. During her later years she did much crochet work and made snowflakes and other designs as Christmas ornaments which she gave as gifts to her children and sent with Christmas cards to relatives in the Netherlands, Europe.

As a teenager, Johanna lived through the hardships and “hunger winter” due to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. She lost one of her best friends who died from starvation. Her gratitude was to the United States and Allied forces for liberating the Netherlands and ending the war. Johanna had many happy memories of her native country and enjoyed mementos from the Old Country. Her delicious Dutch Butter Cookies and Almond Bars baked from scratch as well as homemade preserves of peaches and berries were often enjoyed by family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Laurens Robert Byl; parents, Willem Adriaan, and Cornelia Anthonia; brothers, Cornelis, Willem, and Gerrit; and sisters, Sjaan and Annie; all of The Netherlands.

Johanna is survived by her daughter, Catharine (Roy) Hogue of Newbury Park, CA; sons, Cornelis “Case” (Jayne) Byl, of Golden, CO, Laurens J. Byl, and Robert Byl, both of Ventura, CA; grandchildren, Kayley Byl, Case W. Byl, both of Golden, CO; brother, Arie (Joke); five sisters, Cobie (Andries), Corrie, Dinie, Mar (Klaas), and Elsa, all of the Netherlands; as well as numerous nieces and nephews mostly in the Netherlands.

A graveside service will take place on Friday, February 17, 2017, 11:00 AM., at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura, with the Reverend E. Wayne Kempton officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.