LaVerne Terris (Parkes) Kennedy

LaVerne Terris Kennedy (nee Parkes), a resident at Westminster-Canterbury Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach, died on 28 July of cancer. She was 88.

A Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, Mrs. Kennedy retired in 1982 as head of the Geraldine L. Thompson Medical Home, a county geriatric facility and tuberculosis clinic in Allenwood, NJ. She later served as administrator and advisor to private facilities in NJ. She moved to the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 1987 with her husband, John Kennedy, who passed away in Onancock in 2002.

Mrs. Kennedy is survived by two daughters, Terris Kennedy, of Onancock, and Felicia Grespinet of Touques, France, and a son, Kevin Kennedy, of Manhasset, New York.  Mrs. Kennedy's eldest daughter, Holly Matthews, died in 2013. Mrs. Kennedy is also survived by eight grandchildren: Gabriel and Shane Matthews; Evan, Alden and Francesca Grespinet, and; Alexandra, Kira and Michael Kennedy.

Born in Cleveland to Arthur Roland Parkes and Mildred LaVerne Parkes (nee Fross), Laverne spent her earliest years in Cleveland, living with her paternal grandmother and other relatives. Her father worked as a metal polisher. LaVerne and her family, like many during the Depression years, suffered the strains of frequent moves, separation and uncertain employment. A younger sister, Mabel, died from a childhood illness.  In 1935 LaVerne joined her parents in New Jersey, where her mother had found work at the Radio Corporation of America (RCA).  LaVerne was married to John Kennedy in 1944 on his return from service with the US Army in the Pacific.

LaVerne attended school in North Arlington and Kearny, NJ.  She went on to be a lifelong learner, attending night classes and Rutgers University extension courses to earn her Nursing Home Administrator's license while working full time.

Hers was a life of hard work. She held many jobs -- from radio tube tester during WWII, to Western Union operator, to bookkeeper, to real estate salesperson, administrative assistant and nursing home administrator -- and as wife, mother and anchor for a family of five.

There will be a visitation at the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home on Thursday, July 30, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  A memorial service will be held in New Jersey followed by inurnment at St. Catherine's Cemetery in Wall Township, NJ.   

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember LaVerne are invited to make a donation, in her name, to the charity of their choice.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.