Vera Bergen was born on May 7, 1921, in Kansas, and passed away on May 7, 2016 in Mission Viejo, California, at the age of 95. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Mindy Bergen, of Mission Viejo, CA, and her grandchildren, Paul and Aaron Bergen, and by her sister, Joyce Stanton, of Birmingham, Michigan.

Vera was born to Lydia, who had studied nursing, and Paul Blinn, a pharmacist, and later minister of the United Brethren Church. Vera grew up in Kansas, the oldest of five siblings: Joyce, Donald, Robert, and Larry. Inspired by her third grade teacher, she knew early on that she wanted to become a teacher herself. She worked numerous jobs, cooking, cleaning, and baby-sitting, to put herself through two years of college.

She met her future husband, Aaron, in Plains, Kansas, where she taught third grade, and where Aaron taught and coached at the local high school. They were married in 1943. They were married for 56 years, until Aaron's passing. In addition to teaching, they bought and operated farm and rental properties, which became a lifelong side occupation. They later moved to York, Nebraska, and then, after saving enough money to complete their education, they resigned their teaching positions and moved to Denver, Colorado, where they attended Denver University. Vera earned her BA Degree at Denver University in 1954, and also her MA in 1955, both in Education.

In 1955, Vera and Aaron moved to Los Angeles, and later, Torrance, California, where Vera continued teaching. In 1961 she became a Vice Principal of an elementary school in Inglewood. She also continued taking courses toward her PhD, at USC, Long Beach State, and Pepperdine University, but gave up that ambition when she became pregnant with her son, Ron, who was born in 1963. After returning to work, she took a position as principal of a school for handicapped children. She continued in administration of special education programs for the Los Angeles County School System, eventually directing a number of special education programs for children from 18 months old through high school, located in 14 school districts in Los Angeles County. Having a brother, Larry, who became a quadriplegic through a neck injury, gave her a special empathy for disabled children, and she dedicated the last twenty years of her career to develop and administer special education programs.

During her career as an educator, she served as president of the Inglewood Teachers Association, and was a delegate to the National Education Association Convention in Atlantic City. She was also president of the local chapter of the Council for Special Education, and was sent as a delegate to their national convention in Miami and Chicago. She was also president of the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary sorority for outstanding women in education. She also held various offices in the United Methodist Women's organization.

Vera loved to play piano, and she played for her church when younger. She was a voracious reader, and loved to relax and entertain family and friends at her mountain cabin retreat in Crestline, in the mountains northeast of Los Angeles, and at her timeshare in Escondido, in the hills east of San Diego. In retirement, Vera and Aaron moved to Orange County California, first to Laguna Niguel, and then to Mission Viejo. She lived in her Mission Viejo home for nearly 30 years, longer than she had lived anywhere else. She often said that she just wished her husband Aaron had lived longer, so that he could have known all of the wonderful neighbors who moved in during her later years. She always enjoyed travelling, and in retirement she continued travelling extensively, visiting Europe, Africa, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Canada, and visited many of her relatives throughout the continental US. She also took numerous trips with Mindy and Ron and their children, to Cambria, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo, on the central coast of California, to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, and to Hawaii. Friday night "pizza night" at Grandma's was a standing tradition for the family for many years, as was Sunday dinner at Ron and Mindy's, and Wednesday night dinner out.

She was a treasured friend to many. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She adored her family. She lived a long, fulfilled, and blessed life. She will be greatly missed.

All are invited to her Memorial Service on Monday, May 23rd, 11:00AM, at the Laguna Country United Methodist Church in Laguna Woods, CA. A reception at the church will follow immediately. This will be followed by a short graveside service at 2:30PM, at Pacific View Memorial Park, in Corona Del Mar, CA.