Johanna Arendse

Johanna Arendse, age 95, of Mt. Vernon passed on to her eternal home on November 2, 2025.  She was born in Harrison (near Corsica), South Dakota, the daughter of John and Bertha (Muilenburg) Bos. 

At the age of 11, her family moved to the state of Washington, settling in Sumas.

In 1948, she married Jack Arendse and lived in Whatcom County until 1953 when they moved to the Mt. Vernon area.

Mom was the "head of the household" over their 10 children when dad was on the road with truck-driving jobs.  Raising 4 daughters and 6 sons meant she was always busy!  Her and dad taught all of us to help out and work hard.  Every Sunday morning us kids all lined up so mom could make sure we were neatly dressed for church and Sunday School (attending the Mt. Vernon Christian Reformed Church).  We were each given a pink peppermint and a coin to put in the offering plate.  Later, mom and dad became members of and were active in the Alger CRC.

Mom worked tirelessly for her family but the whole family learned to keep a very tidy home, yard and garden.  Older siblings helped with the younger ones until leaving the nest.  The pantry and freezer were filled each summer with home canned and prepared foods, including home-grown meats. And the family cow provided milk and homemade butter for all.

In 1965, Mom was voted Mother of the Year with a family picture in the local newspaper.  She also worked for some years at the Skagit Valley Convalescent Center but her priority was always her family.

In 1981 dad was injured in a truck accident and later went through cancer.  Mom became his caretaker until dad passed away in 2004.

Johanna is survived by nine of her children: Audrey (Lyle) VerMulm, Bertha (Bill) Paul, John Arendse, Karl Arendse, Bonnie (Glen) Horton, Richard (Jackie) Arendse, Lester Arendse, Ben Arendse, and Jolene Arendse.  Also sisters Hattie Van Weerdhuizen, Henrietta (Tony) Jansen, Bernita Bronkema and sister-in-law Jenny Arendse.  She was blessed with numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and Jack's parents, her younger sister Katherine, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.  She suffered the loss of her husband of 56 years and the unexpected deaths of her youngest son, Adrian; two daughters-in-law Mary Arendse and Joy Arendse; a son-in-law Terry Gray, a grandson Dustin and infant great-grandson Isaac.

Remembrances in lieu of flowers may be made to Hospice of the Northwest or the Mt. Vernon Fire Department.

A viewing will be held from 9:30am until 10:30am, followed by a funeral service at 11:00am on Friday, November 7th, 2025, at Hawthorne Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. A reception with light refreshments will follow in the Hawthorne Reception Room.