Tributes

Mira Anna Shoop The light of our lives left us on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, to return home to our Creator. Oma, you are the single greatest human being we have ever had the good fortune of knowing and loving. Thank you for teaching us the values of unconditional love, dignity, strength, tolerance, resourcefulness (e.g., never wasting a meal or food in general), generosity, the pursuit of knowledge, a love of reading, hard work, loyalty, humility, charity, forgiveness, tenacity, kindness, love of God, and self-respect. The trajectory of her life is awe-inspiring. As a child she lived in an internment camp with her mother and siblings in the Japanese occupied Indonesia during WWII. Her family then suffered the devastating loss of her father who served as a WWII POW and following the close of the war she moved to Papua New Guinea with her husband Willy Ferns and fledgling family. From there, the family settled in the Netherlands for a few years, and then finally set off to the new world as a refugee to live the American Dream with her husband and small children. She drew strength and resilience from these early experiences and as a result, had a deep well of love in her heart but was also known as the type of lady one would *never* to dare cross. She was a devout Christian, a mezzo-soprano, and enthusiast of opera, classical music, and the arts. A speaker of five languages, she was an unabashed global citizen, deeply attuned to the world’s cultural traditions, people, and their cuisine. A devoted wife to Opa Ferns and then later Opa Shoop, she was a loving mother of eight biological children, one adopted, and one stepchild - for a total of 10 children. A beloved grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great-grandmother of 69 (and counting) grandbabies which is quite simply staggering — and proof positive of all the love she brought into this world. Lieve Oma, we cannot thank you enough for the gift your presence has brought us all over the years. There is no greater love than what we feel for you. Be at peace with our Heavenly Father. We miss you already. Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Light Funeral Home on Wednesday. April 17, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at Immanuel Community Church on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Salvation Army. For more see the following link: https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/fundraiser/2027523

Tributes

Mira Anna Shoop

June 8, 1932 - April 9, 2019