Laverne Abbott

Weslaco- LaVerne A. Abbott, 92, passed away on Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 at John Knox Village in Weslaco. She was born in 1927 to Frank and Anna Jaros in Berwyn, Illinois. Laverne grew up in Berwyn. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Illinois. LaVerne took the train to class and it was on that route where she met her soulmate, Wade K. Abbott in 1943. They were married in 1948 and spent the next seventy-one years together.

Ken served in the US Airforce, so they decided to have LaVerne stay home and care for the children. They were relocated several times and raised three children together, Wade, Dave, and Mary Ann.

LaVerne was a model homemaker. She was an excellent seamstress and designed all of her daughter’s clothing for most of her life. LaVerne enjoyed gardening and some craftwork. She was a meticulous housekeeper and ever the supportive wife.

After the kids were grown, Wade retired and he and LaVerne purchased a motor home. Those were some of the best years of LaVerne’s life. They loved to travel and visited almost every state in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They drove through the state of Alaska and spent time in Australia and Hawaii.

The couple settled in Weslaco at John Knox Village in 2009, where they spent the rest of their lives together.

LaVerne is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Anna Jaros, her soulmate, only three months prior, Wade K. Abbott, and daughter, Mary Ann Papke.

She is survived by her sons, Wade Abbott (Lee) of Sussex, New Jersey and Dave Abbott (Beth) of Chalfont, Pennsylvania, grandchildren Wade D. Abbott, Sarah Abbott Pierce, Kristin Abbott Mokarry, David R. Abbott, Christina Papke Howard, Daniel Papke, and Kenneth C. Abbott. LaVerne is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren.