LaVerne Thompson Cleary

Cleary LaVerne Thompson Cleary, age 74, of Minneapolis, wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on November 29, 2002 at the Episcopal Church Home from emphysema. Preceded in death by her husband James, parents Jessie and Russell Thompson, and sisters Freda Reinmiller and Doris Collier. Born in Spokane, WA, LaVerne was high school salutatorian and a graduate of Sacred Heart School of Nursing. She moved to Chicago where she married and raised her family while working at South Shore Hospital and University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics. She enjoyed sewing, playing the piano, reading, travel, and her ties with Church of the Redeemer and later St. Margaret of Scotland Episc. Church. Since 1995, her home has been Becketwood Cooperative where she made many dear friends. She will be deeply missed by her daughters and sons-in-law, Joan Cleary & Jerry Helfand and Susan & Dave Westneat; her 4 grandchildren, and her sisters Russie Hagerty and Joan Zimmer and their families. Her family has followed her wishes to donate her body to the University of MN for medical education and research. Memorial service at Becketwood Chapel, 4300 W. River Parkway, Minneapolis at 4:00 PM on Friday, December 27, 2002. Memorials to American Lung Association of Minnesota, Hospice of the Twin Cities or Episcopal Home Foundation.

Published on December 8, 2002