Annabelle Lee Johnson

Annabelle entered into rest on February 16, 2014 in Sebastopol at the age of 92. Born October 16, 1921 to Morvin Morelli and Florence Morelli (Gonella), of pioneering Italian immigrants who settled in Western Sonoma County, Annabelle spent her life here, graduating from Analy High in 1939, attending the SRJC from 1939-1940, and graduating Mt. Zion School of Nursing in San Francisco in 1943. She married her high school sweetheart, Lawrence Johnson, in 1943 while he was a naval aviator assigned to an aircraft carrier flying missions in the South Pacific. Following the end of WWII, Lawrence and Annabelle returned home and resided in Sebastopol for the rest of their lives. Annabelle worked as a registered nurse at Palm Drive Hospital in the late 1940's. She dearly loved obstetrics and pediatric nursing and considered the infants born under her watch to be "my babies". She worked as an office nurse for the late Dr. Horace Sharrocks for over twenty years. In the mid 1970's, Annabelle became Director of Nursing at the Gravenstein Convalescent Hospital where she enjoyed the camaraderie of many other nurses and staff. She continued nursing well into her life and retired as the Director of Nursing at the Sebastopol Convalescent Hospital. Annabelle was the consummate professional nurse who knew that nursing was her calling from an early age. She lived the Florence Nightingale pledge and devoted herself to all those committed to her care. Annabelle enjoyed playing Bridge and belonged to a club of Sebastopol friends that played together for over fifty years. She was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. In retirement, she enjoyed travelling, and especially enjoyed the fall in the New England states, attending baseball spring training in Arizona, and trips to Reno for slot tournaments. She also enjoyed making jams and jellies. She was predeceased by Lawrence in 1993, son Gregory in 1956, and sister, Carol Bolduc in 1979. She is the loving mother to Richard M. Johnson (Marie) of Sebastopol, loving grandmother to Alicia Hoover (Bill) of Rocklin, and Keith Johnson of Sebastopol, adoring great-grandmother to Brent and Luke Hoover of Rocklin, and cherished aunt to Janelle Johns (Rick) of Chico, and John Seaton of Santa Rosa. She was an enthusiastic supporter of all of her family's endeavors, from youth sports to their transition to adulthood. Her family wishes to thank the Mirabel Lodge and Zimpher Care Home for the compassionate care she received over the past few years. Donations to a favorite charity. Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 1:00 pm at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol, CA. Interment at Sebastopol Memorial Lawn.