Johanna Schweitzer

Johanna Baker Schweitzer, age 101, of Fairfax, VA died peacefully on October 23, 2020. Born October 25, 1918 in New York City; she was the daughter of William and Johanna Baker. Johanna was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Robert Schweitzer and is survived by three children; Roberta Stetson (husband Robert died in 2019), Robert Schweitzer. (Audrey), Donna Schweitzer Rathe (Robert); six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She lived most of her life in New York, New Jersey and Florida, finally moving to Fairfax in 2013. Johanna was born during the flu pandemic of 1918 and died during the pandemic of 2020. In between, she lived a long and wonderful life, filled with the joys of family and friends. As a young child, private telephones were a rarity, yet in her later years, she experienced the magic of the Internet, FaceTime and Zoom. Her life was like a history book, spanning events including WWI, the Great Depression, WWII (in which family members served), the Korean War, the Vietnam War (in which her son served), the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK, men landing on the moon, 9/11 and what she considered one the great highlights, living long enough to see the the election of Barack Obama. Though primarily a homemaker, she also worked part-time in retail at various times over the years. But raising her children always came first. She took great pleasure in making her home a place where her children's friends felt welcome. They all knew that a home-cooked meal or fresh baked butter cookies were always in the offing. Spirited and fun-loving, she enjoyed the company of friends and neighbors and was always up for socializing and sharing a laugh. She loved music and dancing and, later in life, when confined to a walker or wheelchair, she still loved to move to music at every opportunity. Johanna was a strong, determined, and fiercely independent woman. She never complained and refused to surrender to the ravages of advancing age. Despite severe arthritis, she remained an avid knitter and also loved to crochet, needle-point and craft. Once she could no longer see well enough for those activities, she continued to enjoy a good card game, listening to music and sharing her thoughts and opinions. As her mobility became more limited, she cherished visits from family and friends to whom she offered a sympathetic ear, some wise words and unconditional love. Throughout her life, there was no such thing as a stranger -- at least not for long. She was happy to start a conversation with virtually anyone. Whether discussing the news, local events or the latest activities of her beloved family, she remained engaged and outgoing. She leaves behind a legacy of a long life, well lived, and family and friends that miss her terribly. The family wishes to express its appreciation to the staff of Braddock Glen, in Fairfax, who provided wonderful care and loving support during her 9 year residency, and to the staff of Capital Caring Hospice for providing her with a peaceful transition at the end. Due to the pandemic, the celebration of Johanna’s life was delayed, but her family is thankful that they can finally gather in remembrance on October 23, 2021.