Carmela

Johnson

Carmela passed away due to natural causes at the home of her grandson in Alpine, Utah. She had been a resident of Brookings from 1998 until April 1st, 2015. She was born Carmela Cappiello in Boston, MA and her large Italian family moved to California in 1925. She married her high-school sweetheart, Maurice Johnson, in 1941. They were separated by World War II while Maurice was overseas with the Army Air Corps. She did her part for the war effort by working at Lockheed. After the war they started their family and Maurice resumed his job as a Firefighter with the City of L.A. She ran the home and raised two boys. She went back to work as a salesperson and a secretary as soon as her sons were old enough to be responsible. When she and Maurice retired, they followed their grandchildren to Oregon. Carmie and Maurice made lots of friends in Brookings. She was a friendly, thoughtful and generous person who doted on her grandchildren. She was happiest in her kitchen, cooking her Italian specialties for family and friends. She was a long-time parishioner of Star of the Sea Catholic Church. She donated a lot of her time and energy to the church until disabilities caught up with her. She was preceded in death by Maurice in 2003, her beloved grandson Robbie in 1989, her parents, one sister and two brothers. She is survived by her youngest sister, Olympia Vick and sister-in-law Betty Cappiello, who live out of state; sons John (Sheri), Robert (Laurie); grandchildren Jennifer, Ryan, Heather, Amber, Kenny, Lori, and Nita. She is also survived by seventeen great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, May 19th at 2:00 PM at W. J. Ward Memorial Cemetery. Father Luan Nguyen will officiate