Antonia (Tony) KoelOctober 16, 1929 - June 25, 2018"Tony" passed away after a brief illness on June 25, 2018. She was born on October 16, 1929 in Haarlem, Netherlands to Bernardus and Maria Gussenhoven. She grew up in Haarlem and lived through the German occupation of her native country with her brother Ben and her mother and father. After the war she met Jan Koel, also of Haarlem, and they were married in the shadow of the Grote Kerk at the Haarlem Stadhuis on April 14, 1956.
Shortly after their marriage both Tony and Jan moved to the United States where they both worked in the hotel industry in Cocoa Beach, Florida. After a year in the heat they packed up their belongings and moved to cooler climes in California to start their new life together in San Francisco and soon settled down into their own home in Daly City in 1963.
In Daly City Jan and Tony raised their two sons, Howard and Vincent, and enjoyed their new life and neighbors in their adopted country. Jan pursued a career in the insurance industry and transitioned to independent painting contractor later in his life. Tony remained home raising her two sons.
Jan passed in 1980 and Tony reentered the work world to support her family. In her retirement years Tony spent hundreds of hours volunteering at the Doelger Senior Center where she made many new friends. She remained in her own home until her passing on June 25. Her younger son, Vincent, lived with her in her final years and cared for her as she aged making it possible for Tony to live out her final years in the home that she loved.
Tony is survived by her sons Howard (Patty) Koel and Vincent Koel and by her grandchildren Ryan and Shannon Koel.
A memorial gathering will be held at Chapel of the Highlands, Millbrae on July 6, 2018, 11 AM with interment at Skylawn Memorial Park at 1 PM where she will be reunited with her husband, Jan.