Johanna Vera Maloney

Johanna “Vera” Grandjean Maloney of Parker, Colorado passed away from colon cancer on January 1, 2022.  Vera was born on November 16, 1947 in Delft, Holland “Netherlands” to Johannes and Margaretha Grandjean. She was the youngest of seven children.  She migrated to the U.S. by boat with her family on October 30, 1953, sponsored by the LDS church.  Her family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where Vera spent much of her life.  She married Michael Ray Wright on March 18,1966. They had three children Michael, Candace, and Wendy.   Michael and Vera later divorced. Vera married Terrence Maloney on January 3,1989 until his death in 2012. 

Vera was a very classy lady who, when she walked into a room, brought such elegance with her it would turn heads.  She also had a real zest for life and loved to sing and dance. She was the life of any party and instilled a love of music in her children. She went to South High School where she participated in the school plays.  Her favorite play was “West Side Story”.  She loved ballet and many other forms of dance.  She enjoyed instructing the youth in her LDS ward in her earlier years.  She taught her children dances such as the Cha-Cha, The Twist, The Pony (Wendy’s favorite) and many others.  She had a love of music which she passed on to her children.  Many of our memories are of her putting on ABBA and other various artist records and all of us would sing and dance together for hours.  Vera had a strong love for all animals and we had a variety of pets growing up. She also had a great knack for interior decorating and could make any room home. 

Vera moved to Parker, Colorado in 2012 to live with her daughter Candace Hatch after her husband Terry passed away.  She liked to cook with her son in law Michael Hatch, planting beautiful flowers, and spending time with her grandchildren Emily and Rachael.  She was known by Emily and Rachael as “Oma”.  Although she enjoyed living in Colorado, she missed the Wasatch Mountains and Utah was always in her heart.  

Vera is preceded in death by her parents; Johannes and Margaretha Johanna Grandjean, her brother Adrianus Grandjean; her three sisters; Trudy Newman, Corrie Roelofs, Margaretha Boogard, and her husband Terry Maloney.  She is survived by her two brothers Brent and John Grandjean, her three children Michael Wright (Linda), Candace Hatch (Michael), and Wendy Wright (John), her beloved dog Bella, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the LDS Ward House 5720 S 4270 W in Kearns on Friday, January 28th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Due to the Salt Lake County mask mandate, masks will be required. Her remains will be buried in a Cremorial Headstone on her parent’s grave in the spring at Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery located at 6500 South Redwood Road.  

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