LaVerne Alice Kulich

LaVerne was born in St. Joseph, Michigan on May 9, 1925 to Frederick and Pearl Gitersonke. She grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan during the Great Depression. Her family lived near the beach in an area with many German immigrants and she was considered a "sand rabbit". She had three brothers and one sister. Her family moved to a small farm in Berrien Springs across from her grandparents, where her family endured the loss of her baby sister Shirley and her older brother Vernon.

During WWII, Laverne joined the Army and went to nursing school at St. Mary's College across from Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. The War ended as she graduated and she began her career as an Registered Nurse working in obstetrics and later in the recovery room. When she retired from Memorial Hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan, she began working as an Industrial Nurse for Whirlpool Corporation.

LaVerne met the love of her life, William Kulich, at the Shadowland Ballroom where they spent years dancing the jitterbug to Big Band music. They were married in 1947 and held hands throughout their 69 years of marriage. William and LaVerne had many friends with whom they enjoyed golfing and playing cards.

St. Joseph is rich in history from the Miami and Potawatomi Tribes, to Father Marquette, LaSalle, and Al Capone. LaVerne became very active in Questers, an antique club dedicated to the study, conservation and preservation of St. Joseph's history. While working as a full-time RN, she opened an antique shop in South Bend and enjoyed travels with her "antiquing" friends.

Above all, LaVerne lived her life with an infectious smile and the desire to help others at all times. She never met an enemy and befriended anyone she met with a smile and positive words. Although she didn't always talk about it, she was a person of strong faith and her belief was contagious. She grew up in the Baptist Church, converted to Catholicism later in life, and attended Resurrection Lutheran Church when she move to Cary in 2015. Her faith radiated at every service.

She especially loved children and had close relationships with all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. They remember her great back rubs (which they fought over), her amazing cooking which included homemade sausage, blintzes, and potato pancakes. St. Joseph was a melting pot full of rich cultures and her friends shared recipes teaching her to make amazing Italian food.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Kulich, her parents, Fred and Pearl Gitersonke, her siblings, Vernon, Jack, Richard, and Shirley.

She is survived by her two children Steven Kulich and Carole (Kulich) Shaeffer, her grandchildren William (Kip) Kulich and his wife Kelly, John Shaeffer, Mathew Shaeffer, and Stephanie Shaeffer, and her great grandchildren Bailey, Megan, and Evelyn.