One of my greatest memories-singing away in the Manger, with mom playing the piano at grandmas and grandpa’s at Christmas time.

My mom, being born during the depression, grew up being resourceful and frugal and understood the value of family relationships. She was always doing everything she could getting her hands on everything and working very hard at so many things. Her strong faith and perseverance in life helped her endure so much. She showed that three boys can be raised successfully with nothing except love, which she had so much of. Her love of traveling and adventure got her to all end of the earth. She got to see, and be part of more than most can even imagine. People loved my mom and wanted to be around her. She was my best friend, and I will dearly miss her the rest of my life.

Dear Family, 
No measure of comfort can suppress the ache I feel for losing my Aunt Vera.  Although she was not really my aunt, she was extra special to me, and I felt more close to her than any of my relatives.  
Aunt Vera made people feel special and feel loved.  She had a way of making any project or mundane task fun and creative, whether making wraps for lunch or mowing the lawn.-- her games and activities in doing it was fun.  
I looked forward each year for her special way of sending a simple Christmas bag that we mailed back and forth to each other.  I will miss her special act of love and kindness.  
Her zeal, humor, laughter, and enthusiasm filled every room she entered. Her beauty came from inside.  I miss her dearly, but want you to know that I will see her again in heaven one day. If she is not the door greeter then I don't know who could be better qualified.    Love you like a brother and praying peace and comfort during this difficult time.  Victor Krus.

On behalf of the George and Helen Phifer’s families of Stephanie and Steve Olson, of Pam (George Jr) Phifer, and myself Cathy Phifer we offer sincere condolences in this time of, all of you, your deep loss.  A truly incredible woman. She is missed. Matriarch of such a wonderful family. 
All our love, prayers, and sympathies.

We were so sorry to hear of Vera's passing and extend our deepest sympathies to all her family and friends.  I first met Vera when we carpooled for Mike and Craig in preschool. Vera always made me feel welcome when I would stay overnight going to and from Nebraska to see relatives and alumni functions.  On our travels, the highlight was our trip to Machu Picchu, Peru. Godspeed Vera. 
Donna Pedersen, Craig, Cheryl and Denise.

Aunt Vera going to miss your holiday Snoopy text message. Love you.

Vera, always the gracious hostess, holding honey crisp apple slices for our beer tasting, October 2016.

Cheers! The first of many beer tastings at World of Beers in Belmar, September 2016.

Vera always knew how to dress the part of whatever event we were at, June 2016.

Dressed the theme for a HCA Volunteers Banquet, April 2016.

Horsing around at the horse trough on an ANFRM tour, August 2015.

"The Bluebirds" visit to Gold Hill in the mountains high above Boulder for a Sunday afternoon visit, August 2015.

Proper Victorian ladies at the Molly Brown House Tea, March 2015.

Vera and Governor John Hickenlooper at the Jeffco Action Center, May 2016.

Tree huggers at the Molly Brown Summer House, August 2014.

Vera worked for Homestake mining company for a large part of her working career and they treated her well and the geologist loved her and you should see her rock collection.

She made this sign, and it was one of her favorites

My mom was a shepherds scribe for the writers group of her church and enjoyed writing about many different topics

Sending my prayers & sympathy to Vera’s family.  I’m sad to say goodby to Vera and yet am happy to have known her for the short time I did. We met when I started ushering at the Lakewood Cultural Center in the fall of 2014. We clicked right away finding we had similar senses of humor.   We shared many trips with Lakewood friends to history museums around the front range. Also enjoyed summer picnic lunches in the park. 
When I moved to Maine, Vera continued our friendship with her texts to check up on me. 
Blessings to you dear Vera. 
Love, Lynnette

Vera loved it when her granddaughters came to visit her and they loved spending time with her as well.

Vera loved having all her family come for Christmas.

This was a very special trip in the spring of 1989 as Vera’s mom Anna Marie passed away on  November 28, 1989.

Christmas dinner at Grand Targhee with granddaughters Cinnamon and Aspen. Sons Bryan and Mike as the chef’s that prepared the meals.

Sharing Christmas with her grown up boys.

Vera with her mother Anna Marie and her first grandchild Cinnamon Marie Crabb she was so happy to be at the baptism of her first grandchild. She recently was blessed with a great great grand child Kaleena Moon Rinehart .

My mom got to  drive a dog sled by herself.

Vera crabb’s boys – Mike, Dean and Bryan

Our mom's love of travel brought her to light houses.  She loved to travel and see as many as she could on a trip. She went into them, took photos of them and made photo books of them.  She had a room full of light houses and it carried out to the rest of her house.  Light houses were something her family could share with her. Light houses brought her great joy. She was a light house to all in her life.

Zion Lutheran Church in Saint Francis Kansas

Vera gave me a copy of this photo a few years ago.  I think she was about 4 or 5 at the time.  It's such a cute photo I set it out every Christmas.  It hold special memories now more then ever.

Vera was a lifelong friend of my mother and I. We started out as friends at church. My mother and I taught her kids in Sunday school. She became my mother‘s best friend and traveling and theater companion. She and my mom loved to go to plays and operas in central city. They took several vacations together, including a trip to Boston and one to Michigan’s upper peninsula. When my mother passed away in 1999, I took over being there as her great friend and companion. We went to dinners and senior center programs together. Our favorite thing to do was have Mexican food and a margarita! The best part of our friendship was that I lived across the street from her since 1982. We enjoyed decorating our front windows to see what the other one would do each month or holiday. There will sure be a dark spot on our block without Vera being in the neighborhood. I love you, Vera, God bless you. Rest in peace.

We share a love for delicious ice cream! 

Thanks for being so generous in your time, gifts, and love 💜 


from June 2022

Always up for a new adventure- to walk the paths, hear the birds sing, and enjoy the company of family- miss you Aunt Vera
(Photo from June 2022)

Looking forward to eternity

May the hope of Jesus rest in all our hearts, remembering Aunt Vera's enthusiasm for learning, her inquisitive mind, and joyful spirit

I love this picturesque moment of Aunt Vera looking out to the horizon. It reminds me of her continual pursuit of new adventures and resilient hope for the future.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

We admire Mom's  organizational and creative skills. She traveled the world and shared much of it with us and many others through her beautiful photo albums that also included postcards, books, stamps and coins. Her albums can transport you to lands far and near.

 “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! 
....Everything we have has come from you, 
....We are here for only a moment, 
visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us.
Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon...."
1 Chronicles 29:13-15

'Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV Bible

Harry, Elden, Roy, Jane, and Vera in the late 1930s.

It’s very hard to put into words the incredible person Aunt Vera was. She’s technically my Great Aunt, but we always just called her Aunt Vera - which was fitting because she always seemed about 20 years younger than she was! No matter the occasion, she made it fun and exciting just by being around. I don’t think I ever saw her irritated or discouraged - she had joy that was steadfast. One of my favorite memories with her is when we spent Christmas at her house many years ago. I love the snow, and we got a wonderful snow that Christmas! Uncle Dean, my dad, and I built an amazing snow tunnel in her front yard and she had just as much fun as I did playing in the winter weather! Snow will always remind me of her for the rest of my life. I’m very proud to say that the last words Aunt Vera and I said to one another were “I love you.” I can’t wait to see her again and hear all about her most recent adventure!

At Ft. Lupton Museum with ANFRM. It was a great day!

Celebrating the opening of Chuy's in Belmar, May 2018. We had such fun!

At Ft. Lupton Museum for our ANFRM meeting.

Vera shared this picture with me of her and Dean on Easter Sunday 2018.

Dear Sons, Daughter-in-law, and nieces of Aunt Vera,
I lost contact with your Mother many years ago due to her divorce from your Dad. We had a surprising reconnection in 2020 at a gathering at the Belmar Heritage Center in Lakewood, CO. I had hoped to spend more time with her. With the event of Covid and and work,  I was giving a presentation when Aunt Vera, and Dean her son were in the audience. Again, another great family connection.
I will miss her, but know that she is  likely enjoying the peace of her afterlife.
My heart goes out to each of you, and her friends and her family.
Love and blessings,
Renee Jorgensen (Crabb)

I have always considered myself more of a daughter than a niece to Aunt Vera. Her love has been constant throughout my life. She was the first family member to visit when I was born and she was my pen-pal encouraging me during my first time living overseas. She has shown me what it means to be a faithful friend and Christian woman. 

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23 New International Version Bible

" I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." 
Ephesians 3:16-21 New International Version Bible

On our RV trip across America we chose to spend Christmas with Vera. In addition to this fun trip to Hammonds' Candies, the kids were thrilled at the blizzard which allowed us to be "stuck" staying with Aunt Vera and building snow tunnels in the front yard. We also celebrated Anna's first communion at Aunt Vera's church.

I grew up visiting my Aunt Vera with my mom. I have so many family memories with her and Dean, Mike and Bryan. Her thoughtful touches made every visit special and as an adult I am so glad to have shared her with my husband and my children.

Aunt Vera and I shared many travel adventures including finding my grandpa/her dad's name at Ellis Island and visiting my grandpa's birthplace in Rugenwald, Germany. Aunt Vera came to visit me in Egypt and we took a road trip to Mt. Sinai with my kids and our 8 week old kitten. She was at my wedding in Bavaria and we had a memorable meeting when looking for someone to take my husband and my photo on our honeymoon in Venice, Italy! Her amazing memory for the details of our travels together inspires me. Every trip I take reminds me of her and one of my joys in traveling has been sharing my experiences with her. 

"What can I give back to God
    for the blessings he’s poured out on me?
I’ll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!
   ....When they arrive at the gates of death,
    God welcomes those who love him."  
                     from Psalm 116 in The Message Bible

I volunteered with Vera at Lakewood for the past 20 years. I loved her smile and her laugh. I am so sorry for your loss. She was an amazing woman to know.

We had such a good time when Vera came to the Big Island of Hawaii. We had fun doing many activities.  Our trip to the zoo is a very special memory.  We will miss vera very much.

Ave atque vale (hail and farewell). A 2000 years old condolence as valid now as then.

OBITUARY

Vera Mae Kruger Crabb

June 13, 1937 – November 6, 2023

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Crown Hill

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