Vera Nancy Williams

6/17/1929 – 11/23/2012

Vera Nancy Williams of South Gate passed away, Friday, November 23, 2012, at the age of 83, after a short hospitalization.

She was born in the Dutch East Indies. She was the third child and only daughter of four children born to Peter and Vera Mulder. The year following her birth, her father retired from the Dutch Military, and the family moved to the small French town of Cap d’Ail on the French Rivera. This is where Vera lived until 1950 when she moved with her best friend, Elizabeth to Paris.

In 1952 Vera immigrated to Havana, Cuba, where she met and married her first husband, a Cuban musician Rogelio Darias. An opportunity arose for Rogelio Darias to play with Liberace’s band in 1956 allowing Rogelio and Vera to immigrate to the United States, first settling in Las Vegas, Nevada and then two years later in North Hollywood, California.

In January of 1958 their son Roger was born, and was Vera’s pride and joy. Vera and young Roger were an extremely close twosome as the demanding schedule of being an entertainer on tour kept Rogelio away from home for long periods of time, causing their marriage to end shortly before Roger started school. Vera and Roger remained in North Hollywood. Roger attended school, and Vera worked at Bank of America.

They had a close circle of friends who helped Vera with stresses of being a single parent. Through close mutual friends Vera met Baker Williams. They found they enjoyed each other’s company, dinners and with friends, picnics in the park and their blossoming romance led to their marriage in 1968, enlarging their small family unit to include Baker, his daughter Pam, son-in-law John, and their young son, Mark, and Baker’s son Robert and his wife. Vera and Roger moved to South Gate, California to join Baker. Baker continued working as a teacher at Montebello High School, and Vera continued working for Bank of America while Roger attended Tweedy Elementary School.

Vera was a wonderful cook and enjoyed entertaining and treating their friends and family wonderful meals with dishes like Paella, Rice Stoffel, and many scrumptious desserts. Every year at Christmas she would make a beautiful Yule Log. Together as a family they enjoyed camping, and traveling throughout the United States and Europe. Simply they enjoyed the best of what life offered. Vera, not only could cook well, she also did beautiful hand work, knitting, sewing, and creating beautiful homemade gifts that will be treasured for years to come.

After Baker’s death in August of 2004, Vera continued to live a very full life working a one day a week at her son’s Auto Repair Shop, traveling, going to Casino’s, baking, playing games, and going on outings with her family and friends. She always had a gentle smile and kind words to whomever she came in contact with. Until her death Vera was an active influence in the lives of her son, stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be truly missed.

Vera is Predeceased by her husband Francis Baker Williams, and her brother Tyn Mulder. Vera is survived by her brothers, Rudy Mulder (Yvonne), and Laurent Mulder, Nieces: Marilyn Vespier (Patrice) and Carole Mulder, Great –Nephew, Jerome Vespier, her son Roger Darias (Suzie), Stepdaughter, Pamela Taylor (John), Stepson, Robert Williams (Sharon), Grandchildren: Leilani Joy Darias, Roger Daniel Montell (Su Jin), Kathie Eaton (Todd), Amara Williams, Lorena Williams, Susie Carpenter (Eric), Jeretta Shoemaker (Kevin), and Mark Taylor (Melissa Infusino), and Great-Grandchildren: Keilub Jennings, Jasmyne Jennings, Adrian Hidalgo, Logan Eaton, Eryn Eaton, Jacob Carpenter, Rylee Kay Carpenter, Douglas Shoemaker, Alexa Shoemaker, Emma Shoemaker. Zachary Taylor and Xander Taylor.

It has been said often that Vera’s sweet nature touched all who knew her, even those she just met. Vera Williams’ life was truly a life well lived, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, December 8th, 2012 at the Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary in Long Beach, California. Interment will be at the National Cemetery in Riverside, California Monday, December 10th, 2012.

Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary

562-425-6401