LaVerne Gertrude Scavuzzo

LaVerne Gertrude Scavuzzo

LaVerne Gertrude Scavuzzo was born March 11, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois to Frank J. Smith, an Illinois State Representative, and Mary E. Smith. She was their fifth of seven children. LaVerne grew up on the south side of Chicago, in an all-Irish neighborhood, where she attended Catholic Grade and High School. She also attended Mundelein College, which was founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. While in college, she met the love of her life, Santo "Doc" Scavuzzo. They dated for a few years and were married on December 22, 1945 in San Diego, California. While Doc was serving in the Navy, in the Phillipines, LaVerne moved back to Chicago to take care of her ailing mother. A few years after World War II, LaVerne gave birth to Janet, Chuck, and Tom. They raised their three children in Morton Grove, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. Doc and LaVerne packed up their children and moved to Colorado in 1959 and eventually settled in Littleton, Colorado in 1960. Shortly thereafter, she gave birth to their fourth child, Frank. LaVerne, was a stay at home Mom and the nucleus of the Scavuzzo family. She was involved in various organizations at All Souls Catholic Church. However, her passion was helping the Nuns at the Carmel of the Holy Spirit in Littleton, Colorado. LaVerne passed away on July 16, 2016, in Centennial, Colorado. She is survived by her sisters, Ruth Thompson and Dorothy McCague, her children Janet Scavuzzo, Chuck (Debbie), Tom (Diane), and Frank (Stephanie), 15 grandchildren, and three Great Grandchildren.

Recitation of the Rosary will be August 4, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial following at 10:30 a.m. BOTH at All Souls Catholic Church. Private family graveside will follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery.