Mrs. Johanna B Accorti
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Johanna's obituary
Johanna B. Accorti passed away peacefully on the morning of August 14th 2022 in the company of her son and daughter. Johanna was born in The Hague, Netherlands on December 2nd 1934. Shortly thereafter her parents moved to Indonesia where Johanna's father was an official in the Indonesian railways. Their happy time in Indonesia was cut short by the start of WW II where the family was interned in camps run by the Japanese Army. Johanna's father was separated in a different camp for the duration of the war. Even after the war was over, young Johanna and her parents needed a full year of recovery in Australia before they could return back to the Netherlands.
Returning to the Netherlands, while welcome, was not easy for young Johanna. Johanna had not been in school for the entirety of the internment and her Dutch accent sounded odd to those back home. Johanna found herself far behind children of a similar age and she had to take remedial classes with much younger children to catch up. Johanna worked hard in her studies and eventually caught up. As a young European in her 20s, Johanna worked in the UK and eventually Paris where she worked as a secretary at SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe). At SHAPE, Johanna met an American Army officer from New Jersey named Peter J. Accorti. Peter was a veteran of WW II and Korea and was much liked by Johanna's parents.
On March 14th 1959 Peter and Johanna were married and as a young army couple found themselves moving every few years. A daughter was born in Paris. Later another daughter was born in Nashville TN. Lastly a son was born in Okinawa Japan. After retirement from the Army the family eventually settled in Crofton MD.
Life in Crofton was good for Johanna and family. Johanna added to her schooling and graduated from the University of Maryland. Johanna was fluent in several languages and could switch easily among them. Johanna loved pets and the house was always filled with various kinds of dogs and some birds.
As the children grew up and eventually moved out Peter and Johanna settled for a quiet life at the end of a cul-de-sac in their home overlooking the golf course in Crofton. They spent their days on home projects and adoring their various pets. Peter died in 2003 and Johanna continued to live in the Crofton home for many years after. Johanna spent her later years visiting her friends and adoring her many pets. She was often visited by her children and grandchildren for whom she was quick to splurge with gifts.
Johanna grew up in a time of great turmoil and she endured difficulties few of us can imagine. Through it all she remained a woman of great poise and intellect. She will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with her husband of 44 years Lt. Col. Peter J. Accorti.
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