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Levine Chapels

470 Harvard Street

Brookline, Massachusetts

ANNETTE DE LEEUW-ULLIAN Obituary

DE LEEUW-ULLIAN, Annette Clara Of Austin, TX, formerly of Lexington, MA, on Saturday, July 30, 2022. Beloved wife of the late Dr. Robert B. Ullian. Devoted mother of Peter Ullian and his wife Michele, Erik Ullian and his wife Kimberly, and Alisa Ullian Walls and her husband Scott Walls. Cherished grandmother of 7 beloved grandchildren. Dear sister of Peter, Alex, and Henry de Leeuw. Beloved cousin of Marja and Gerard Lindgreen. Also left to cherish her memory are many loving nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins, as well as an extended family of "unofficial" siblings and many friends. Born into a Jewish family in Nazi-occupied Holland, Annette's mother Jacoba Rachalina van Riessen de Leeuw died soon thereafter. Her uncle, Alexander de Leeuw had already been deported by the Nazis, and her father, Dr. Karel de Leeuw, was forced to go into hiding. Annette was taken in by Jan and Marie Schultsz. She grew up for her first few years as a member of that family, along with her "unofficial" siblings Jan, Jr., Bart, and Johanna. After the war she was reunited with her father, who later remarried. As a teenager, she lived with Ans Kreiken-Polak's family in Bilthoven. Ans's son, Juus, was seven when Annette arrived. He remembers her fondly and to this day thinks of her as his sister. In the early sixties, Annette came to the United States, working first as an au pair and later working at Harvard's Widener Library. It was during this time when she met Dr. Robert B. Ullian, a young physician in the Boston area. They were married in 1965 and together they raised three children. Robert passed away in 2005. They were married for almost forty years. As a young wife and mother, Annette was actively involved in a local women's group. She was passionate about music and managed to bring her husband, who preferred classical and Jazz, to a variety of rock and roll concerts. Later, when her children were old enough, they accompanied her instead. She subsequently took her grandchildren to ballet and live theater. After Annette's children were grown, she earned her BA from Regis College and went on to earn a Master's in Social Work from Boston University. She worked professionally as a social worker thereafter, visiting many families on the North Shore and throughout Massachusetts, and helping them through the challenges they faced. Annette loved to travel and visited countries and regions such as China, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Bhutan, Egypt, the Galapagos Islands, Argentina, and the Caribbean. She loved to read and loved clothes, and her house was filled with books and well-coordinated outfits. She was an active member of a book club and a movie club. She loved cinema as much as music and literature. She loved to swim, hike, and jog, and was an active member of her community pool and a beloved resident of the neighborhood where she resided for over fifty years. Above all, Annette loved her family. She loved to visit and spend time with her grandchildren, for Bar Mitzvahs, graduations, school plays, long hikes, birthdays, and holidays. Her house was always a delight for her children and grandchildren to visit. Services will be held at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, BROOKLINE, MA 02446 at 9:30am on Thursday, August 4th, with a graveside service to follow immediately thereafter at Lindwood Memorial Park, 490 North Street, Randolph, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Annette's memory may be made to the ProMedica Memory Care Fund or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Levine Chapels 470 Harvard Street Brookline, MA 02446 www.levinechapels.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Aug. 2 to Aug. 3, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for ANNETTE DE LEEUW-ULLIAN

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6 Entries

Peter Ullian

August 6, 2022

These are my remarks from my mom's service:

My mother was a very loving woman. She was also a very stubborn Dutch woman. In fact, my dad always referred to her as "a stubborn Dutch woman with champagne tastes." That stubbornness served her well through some very difficult times, when champagne was in short supply, first as a hidden child of the holocaust raised as an infant by the family who hid her as their own until the end of the war, and then when she found herself suddenly returned to her father, whom until that time she did not even know. Later, she drew on that stubbornness and resolve to travel alone to America, not yet twenty, working first as an au pair and later at Widener library.
I think that stubbornness served her best when, in middle-age, after her kids were grown and starting lives of their own, she went back to school, got her BA at Regis and, already a grandmother, went on to get her master´s in social work at Boston University and to begin a new career. She served clients on the North Shore, during a time when the economic devastation there left a lot of families broken and hurting. It took a very stubborn but also very loving woman like my Dutch mother to help them heal.
It was that stubborn and loving woman who also patiently sewed felt over the worn areas of my childhood Teddy bear to give him new paws. These paws would wear through again within a few months, revealing the straw he was stuffed with. Mom would lovingly - and a little stubbornly -- sew those paws up again. She also sewed button eyes back on stuffed animals when they came loose. The cared for the things her children cared for with the same stubborn diligence with which she cared for us.
I got my early rock and roll and folk music education from my mother´s record collection, which she proudly and stubbornly stored among my father´s classical records. I discovered the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Simon and Garfunkel, and Joan Baez from her. When I was old enough to want to go to concerts, but too young to go by myself, Mom and I shared our love for rock n´ roll at concerts by the Who, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Elvis Costello, among others.
Witnessing the love both my parents had for my children is one of the most profound experiences of my life. Mom stubbornly loved those boys like nobody´s business. She went to every school play and musical they were in, and thoroughly enjoyed herself, even when she didn´t realize until intermission that the actor disguised in wig, mustache, and beard playing Captain Hook was in reality her fifteen-year-old grandson, Alexander.
I learned a lot from my mom. I learned about the importance of family. I learned about the importance of resolve. But most of all, I learned the most stubborn Dutch woman of them all was also the most fiercely loving.

Sandy Fisher

August 5, 2022

I spent many happy moments with Annette in her Lexington living-room discussing books. She was in our book group for a number of years and always contributed to our meetings. She will be missed.

Single Memorial Tree

Peggy (Molly) Swan

Planted Trees

Peggy Swan

August 4, 2022

Dear Peter, Erik, and Alisa,
I'm living in Canada now, but have the sweetest memories of your Mom and Dad and all of us spending wonderful time together years ago in Lexington (and before that, in Cambridge, when Peter and Jonathan were just babes and Annette and I very young and inexperienced moms!). Reading of Annette's passing brings much sadness and also a flood of happy memories. I share your loss! If there's ever an opportunity, I'd love to see you.
Be well and take care. With love, Peggy (Molly) Swan

Lynn Hermab-Atkins

August 3, 2022

Deepest sympathy to the Ullian family. Missing both Bob and Annette. Worked with Bob in his medical practice for many years.

Lynn Herman-Atkins

August 3, 2022

To the Ullian family....so sorry to hear about your mom. She was such a delightful woman, and i was happy to have known her. Missing your dad and working with him for so many years deepest condolences
Lynn and David Atkins

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Memorial Events
for ANNETTE DE LEEUW-ULLIAN

Aug

4

Service

9:30 a.m.

Levine Chapels

470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446

Aug

4

Graveside service

Lindwood Memorial Park

490 North Street, Randolph, MA

Funeral services provided by:

Levine Chapels

470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446

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