Thursday, 28 March 2024

Annelies Jefferson

Annelies Jefferson. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Annelies Jefferson, age 84, went to be with the Lord on June 3, 2020, at her home surrounded by her daughters and family in Clearlake. God took her peacefully in her sleep.

Annelies was the devoted mother of Barbara, Linda, Dorothy, Diana and Cynthia. Loving grandma to Clint, Eric, Eli, Jessie, Mitchell, Richard, Kenny, Stuart, Teddy, Daniel, Taylor, Michael, Coral, Melissa and Derric. She had great love for her 21 great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many special loved ones and lifelong friendships. Annelies wanted all of her family to know how deeply she loved each one of them.

She was born Maria Annelies Malburg on Aug. 31, 1935, in Dresden, East Germany. Her parents were Thekla and Helmut Domagala. Helmut adopted Annelies at the age of 7, changing her last name to Domagala. She was an only child.

In 1945, Dresden was bombed, destroying most of her hometown. The family fled in the middle of the night, hiding in the forest. Her father bought a gypsy wagon, loading up their belongings and hiring farmers to pull the wagon from town to town until they arrived at Langendiebach, Germany.

Annelies attended an all-girls private school and was well educated. She loved reading from a young age and taking walks in the forest with her German Shepherd. Annelies chose to attend nursing school after high school, working in pediatrics. She was a nanny during this time as well.

She met her husband in Nuremberg, Germany, who was stationed there in the Army. The couple moved with their firstborn, Barbara, to Riverside, California, in 1958, where they lived at Sherman Indian School for eight years. They were blessed with four more daughters during this time.

Annelies worked at two different convalescent hospitals while the girls were young. As an independent mother, Annelies provided for and instilled a deep strength of character within her daughters. She later became an optometrist assistant for 13 years, moving on to own an optical shop in Huntington Beach, California. She eventually followed her daughters to Clearlake where she spent the rest of her life loving her growing family.

She spent her years in Clearlake raising grandchildren, tending to her flowers and yard. She loved flowers so much and planted a great variety wherever she lived along with fruit trees. She loved crocheting scarves and hats for her family.

She had a kind and gentle heart who took in others along their journey. She treasured her daughters and truly loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She made friends everywhere she went. All who loved her deeply will never forget her tenacity, charm, wisdom, friendship and undying love for them.

She was one of the strongest women we have ever known. She wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything. Through her example, we know what resilience and perseverance truly look like.

Annelies will be remembered for her thoughtfulness, humor, love of art, classical music and dancing. She was a wise and incredible woman.

A celebration of life will be held at noon on July 9. We will gather at 11444 Lakeshore Drive Clearlake. A reception will follow at the location and Rev. Chris Massingill will officiate.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
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Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
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Easter Monday
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