Johanna Thresia Wolff

She was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, to Gerard Frederik Kraus and Jeanne Portier Kraus, and was the second youngest of five siblings: Rudie, Corrie, Roulof (Roel), Johanna, and Gerard. After becoming an orphan at a young age, her siblings became her closest and most enduring source of love and connection. Separated early from her parents and without the experience of a traditional family life filled with celebrations and holidays, she formed an especially deep bond with her brothers and sisters, who remained at the heart of her world. That bond shaped the way she later loved, protected, and cared for her own family.

She married her beloved husband, William Wolff, on September 7, 1949, in Borneo, Indonesia, beginning a lifelong partnership built on love, perseverance, and shared purpose. With a deep desire to create the family life she had longed for, they worked side by side to build a future grounded in hope and determination. Together, they traveled aboard the USS United States to immigrate to the United States, arriving through Ellis Island—a journey marked by courage, faith, and the promise of a new beginning.

Eventually settling in Hawaiʻi, Johanna embraced island life with gratitude and grace. She found joy in the simple and meaningful rhythms of daily living—tending her garden, enjoying her morning coffee, and gathering her family and her close circle of Dutch-Indo friends around Indonesian food and shared moments. Her home was a place of warmth, welcome, and connection.

As a mother, she carried life’s challenges with quiet strength, always holding onto hope for her children and a deep belief in their goodness. Through every season of her life, she remained steadfast in her faith in God and her ability to find light even in difficult times.

She is survived by her cherished children, Richard, Jeffery, and Theresia; her grandchildren, Brandon, Brenton, Breeana, Joelle, and Kylie; her great-grandchildren, Michael, Shyrah, Keira, Brayden, Baron, and Sasha; and her great-great-grandchild, Braxton.

Johanna will be remembered not only for the life she lived, but for the way she loved—with quiet strength, deep devotion, and a steady presence in the lives of those closest to her. Having grown up without the chance to celebrate life’s simple joys, she carried a deep appreciation for togetherness, holidays, and meaningful time with family.

In her later years, she was surrounded with care, comfort, and love, and was able to experience the warmth and attention that meant so much to her. Her presence will be deeply missed, and her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.