Johanna Helen Kerman, of Auburn, Maine, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2022 at the age of 93. 

Born on October 1, 1928 in Northampton, PA to Hungarian immigrant parents, Frank and Maria (Jurasits) Kurtz, she moved to New York at the age of two. 

Johanna grew up in New York City where she had a close-knit group of friends who loved attending weekend dances in the church hall where the Tommy Dorsey Band would play. Her fondest memories always included her best friend, Annie, especially the night they swooned over teen idol Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall. But she was never far from the watchful eyes of her three brothers, especially oldest brother, Frank, who always insisted on accompanying her to and from the dances. 

As a teenager, Johanna reluctantly left her NYC lifestyle when her family moved to a farm in Kingwood Township, NJ, but soon met the love of her life, Eugene Kerman, who lived on a neighboring farm in Alexandria Township. They married in 1947 and were together for 59 1/2 wonderful years until his death in 2006. 

An incredible cook, gardener, seamstress and crafter, Johanna's kitchen was always filled with the mouth-watering aromas of Hungarian foods, pastries, and the family favorite, honey cookies! She provided every family member with hand knit sweaters, hats and mittens, and was still crocheting afghans  at the age of 92. An avid quilter, Johanna made dozens of quilts that she would just give to anyone who wanted one, her heart always being in a generous place. 

After Johanna's retirement from the Thomas J. Lipton company in Flemington, NJ, she and Eugene traveled extensively in their motorhome, making two cross-country trips to the west coast as well as annual trips to Maine and the mid-Atlantic seacoast. She moved to Auburn, Maine in 2007 and, with the exception of a few years in Florida, embraced Maine as her home. She always marveled at the beauty of the seasons and was in awe of the miracles that each season provided. 

Johanna devoted her life to family. She reveled in the joy of watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow. She was always extremely proud of their academic and athletic accomplishments, and continued to attend the sporting events of her great-granddaughters well into her nineties. 

Johanna was pre-deceased by her husband, three brothers, Frank, John, and Joseph Kurtz, and her baby sister, Helen. 

She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law - Barbara and Dennis Ramsby of San Antonio, FL; MaryEllen and Larry Irwin of Auburn, ME; three grandchildren - Michael Ramsby and wife, Dayna, of Lakeland, FL; Jason Irwin of Mount Desert, ME; Michelle Irwin Doucette and husband, Philip, of Auburn, ME; four precious great-grandchildren - Jack and Joseph Ramsby of Lakeland, FL; Allison and Sarah Michaud of Auburn, ME; 14 nieces and nephews. 

The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staffs of Dublin Place at Clover Manor and Androscoggin Home Healthcare & Hospice for their care, compassion and kindness to Johanna and her family. 

At Johanna's request, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.   https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/johanna-kerman/obituary/

Copy