Mother Teresa once said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” By this measure of world-changers, Gezina Maria Kristina (“Josien”) O’Neal, was decidedly one of the very best. A sweet, spry and sassy 81-year-old, Josien passed away April 16, 2024, enveloped by her four adult children, to whom she was nothing short of everything.
A celebration of Josien’s life is scheduled on what would have been her 82nd birthday, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Crawford Funeral Home, 610 N.W. 178th Street, in Edmond, officiated by Danny Ringer. Interment will follow at Gracelawn Cemetery, 1407 N. Boulevard, in Edmond. Viewing and visitation was 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2024, at Crawford Funeral Home.
Josien was born April 20, 1942, in Emmen, The Netherlands, to Anton and Anna Schulte, the sixth of what would ultimately be 12 children comprising their large Catholic family. It was the middle of World War II, The Netherlands was Nazioccupied, and the family farm was located less than seven miles from the West German border.
Much to her father’s chagrin, fate would have Josien share her birthday with that of the German dictator. Josien was always proud to hear and retell stories of her parents and older siblings’ assistance during the war, offering everything from food to hiding places for displaced Jews. Josien recounted her childhood growing up in post-World War II Holland as requiring a certain stoicism, but also happy and full of love. Among her favorite memories were ice-skating along the frozen canals, watching her father read while smoking his pipe, helping take care of her younger siblings and sharing a room with her sisters.
Josien attended boarding school at Steenwijkerwold. She thereafter continued to study foreign languages with an eye towards becoming an international stewardess, learning English, French, German and Greek in addition to her native Dutch, also while working as an assistant to a child psychologist. In 1966, her study led her to the Island of Crete, Greece, where one evening sitting at an outdoor terrace with a friend, she met Larry O’Neal, a young American man from Oklahoma stationed at Iraklion Air Force Base.
Eight months later they were engaged, and they both returned to their respective homes to prepare for Josien to join Larry in the United States. They were wed by Larry’s father, Rev. Finis O’Neal, September 2, 1967, a year to the day they met, in Enid, and remained inseparable for the next 56 years.
While Larry completed his military service and started a career in banking, which took them from Wichita Falls, Texas, to Woodward, Snyder and Weatherford. Josien worked as a nurse/ surgical assistant, which she enjoyed greatly. October 6, 1970, Josien gave birth to their first child, Patrick, who died the following day due to complications at birth.
Two years later, in 1972, she had their second son, Jason, followed by daughter, Julie, in 1974. Thinking their family was complete, Josien was shocked when she learned, seven years later, she was expecting another daughter, Jennifer. Following her birth in 1981, Josien chose to become a full-time homemaker. In 1984, Larry and Josien had their fifth and final child, Jessica.
Larry and Josien raised their family primarily in Weatherford, where they invested heavily in the community. Josien particularly enjoyed volunteering with the local chapter of Special Olympics, coordinating lunches for the athletes, and working with her long-time friend Patty to arrange and attend trips with senior citizens. Larry and Josien loved to travel and also enjoyed spending time with travelers, frequently hosting foreign exchange students and others through the Rotary International and Up with People organizations as well as family from abroad. In 2008, they moved from Weatherford to Edmond to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Josien proudly became a United States citizen in 2006, apparently deciding after nearly 40 years she was here to stay. Her Dutch roots ran deep, however, and her beautifully decorated home was adorned with Delft blue pottery, pictures of windmills, tulips and many other reminders of home. Stroopwafels, hagelslag and Wilhelmina peppermints were pantry staples and her Dutch accent never diminished.
Of the many adjectives that would aptly describe Josien, perhaps the most fitting is “tireless.” Josien’s hands were always busy, whether landscaping her impeccable yard, crossstitching, painting, preparing one of her elaborate home-cooked meals, turning the pages of a book, telling a long, animated story or patting one of her kids’ backs. Rare was the occasion she sat down. Josien also was tireless in her devotion to her family, innately knowing how to remain deeply involved in her kids’ lives without trying to dictate how they lived it.
This should not, however, be interpreted to mean Josien did not express her opinions. On the contrary, Josien never parted with her Dutch directness. Until her very last days, Josien told it exactly like it was, without apology, but also without ill-intent. In her mind, the blunt truth was kind and she was there to tell it. If you asked for her opinion, or even if you didn’t, you need not fear Josien would hold back her honest thoughts on the subject. And if she could not express those thoughts with words, a certain side eye glance said everything you needed to know. This directness, coupled with Josien’s quick, dry sense of humor, often made her the most hilarious person in the room and will be one of her most missed qualities.
A special word about Josien’s nine grandchildren: she loved them dearly, they are the best-looking, most talented, and smartest, and they did no wrong. Rules Josien enforced with vigor with her own children did not apply to her beloved grandchildren. If her children tried to enforce said rules, they were met with the previously referenced directness/side eye, a possible finger wag and were told to let them be. Josien’s grandkids were and remain perfect in every way, and she loved each one unconditionally, for, and because of, exactly who they are.
Survivors include: her son, Jason O’Neal and wife, Diana, of Bethany; daughters, Julie Fulton and husband, Brad, of Edmond, Jennifer Christian and husband, Isaac, of Norman, and Jessica Rogers and husband, Greg, of Heath, Texas; her grandchildren, Logan, Luke and Landry O’Neal, McKinley Fulton, Addison and Ford Christian, and Hudson, Hannah and Caroline Rogers; and her siblings, Lien Roording, Henk Schulte, Mieke Verdonck, Herman Schulte, Joop Schulte, Ben Schulte, Ton Schulte and Heleen Klein; in addition to many brothers and sisters-inlaw, cousins, nephews and nieces.
Josien is preceded in death by: her best friend and husband, Larry O’Neal; son, Patrick Brendan O’Neal; parents, Herman Anton and Anna Katharina Schulte; brother, Hendrik Schulte; and sisters, Stien Platzer and Anneke Schulte.
Josien’s family would like to thank everyone who offered support and prayers during Josien’s four-year battle with lobular carcinoma. Special thanks are extended to her oncologist, Dr. Sonia Varghese, and her team at Mercy Coletta Cancer Center. Dr. Varghese handled Josien’s care with not only the highest degree of professionalism and competence, but also with uncommon compassion and grace. The family also thanks Visiting Angels of Edmond for providing daily care and attention to Josien during these last several months, particularly Connie and Donna, who treated Josien as a friend, as well as Valir Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations be made in Josien’s honor to Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance Inc.