Beloved by many, Vera Todahl, aged 89, died on Friday, Jan. 5, in Bellingham. She was born in Bellingham to Joseph and Nina (Razovich) Vitaljic. A lifelong resident of Whatcom County, she was raised in Fairhaven’s Slavic fishing community which shaped her commitment to family, faith, and service.
Vera graduated from Bellingham High School and was very proud to have been the 1955 Blossom Time Queen. She practiced nursing after graduating from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing.
Vera married the love of her life, Harlan Todahl, on Aug. 7, 1960, and they were together, and dear friends, for 57 years. While raising four children, their love created a warm and welcoming home cherished by friends, family, and neighbors.
Vera was an active member of the community, including decades of service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lynden, as a volunteer and employee with the Lynden Heritage Museum, and for many years was a vibrant clerk at the Lynden Dutch Bakery. She was loved for her quick wit, sly humor, vivaciousness, and generosity. She was a huge Mariners fan.
She was preceded in death by husband Harlan Todahl, son Mark Todahl, and sister JoAnn Nelson. Vera is survived by her children Diane (Bill) VanDiest, Jeff (Gwyn) Todahl, and Teresa (Paul) Erickson, grandchildren Ryan (Megan) VanDiest, Kellie VanDiest, Stacie VanDiest, Sam Todahl, Drew Todahl, and Bennett DeLong, great-grandchildren Leah, Brielle, Kyler, Brenyn, and Jace, brother Andy (Erin) Vitaljic, sister Katherine Reynolds, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made in Vera’s name to Lynden Heritage Museum (lyndenheritagemuseum.org) or St. Joseph Catholic Church (stjoseph-stpeter.org).
Services were held for Vera on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
You may share your memories of Vera with the family at the Westford Funeral Home website.
