LaVerne Francis Pompa

LaVerne was born the eldest child to Thelma Hermoine Ziegenfuss and Luther Boyd Stackhouse in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on October 6th, 1942. She graduated from Liberty High School in 1960.

LaVerne married Leo Joseph Pritulsky in June 1961, with whom she had 3 children: Michael, Kristine & Matthew. LaVerne & Leo moved from Pennsylvania to Mesa, Arizona in 1979. Laverne & Leo divorced in 1982. LaVerne met and married Joseph Pompa in January 1984. Together they purchased a home in Chandler, AZ. They were married for 8 years until Joe’s death in 1992. LaVerne would remain in the same home for the remainder of her life.

LaVerne worked as a Customer Service Supervisor for the Arizona Pennysaver, the Mesa Tribune, and The Arizona Republic, from which she retired in 2007. LaVerne was a volunteer member of the Gilbert Optimist Club, Gilbert Historical Museum, The Arizona Humane Society and was long time member of the Desert Botanical Garden. LaVerne enjoyed being outdoors, exploring nature in the state she loved so much. She also loved packing up her camper and exploring the country with friends and family every chance she could. She loved spending time in her yard and garden with her dogs. She enjoyed volunteering for various causes, creating ceramics and just being with family. LaVerne was also very passionate about our family’s genealogy.

Laverne is survived by the following:

Sister - Kathleen Mae Stackhouse of New York, NY; Son/Daughter-In-Law – Michael Joseph & Jacquelyn Marie Pritulsky of San Tan Valley, AZ; Daughter – Kristine Marie Pritulsky of Chandler, AZ; Son/Daughter-In-Law – Matthew Allen & Holly Ann Pritulsky of Gilbert, AZ; Granddaughter – Kristin Marie Pritulsky of San Tan Valley, AZ; Grandson/Granddaughter-In-Law – Paul Michael Pritulsky & Kristine Ann Demlong-Pritulsky & her sons Wyatt James, Dylan Scott & Ryan Richard Cole of Avondale, AZ; Granddaughter - Shay Lyn Pritulsky of Gilbert, AZ; Great Granddaughters – Arianna Brooke Pritulsky & Evelyn Raisa Tolstoy-White of San Tan Valley, AZ.

In Memoriam

LaVerne Francis Pompa

10/6/42 – 6/12/24

While it is with great sorrow we announce the passing of our Mom, it is more important we celebrate her life. To quote one of her favorite children book author Dr Suess; “Don't cry because it's over…. Smile because it happened,” which is exactly what she would have wanted. No matter what life threw at her, she always somehow remained a strong, happy, caring person, who would do anything for anyone. She loved life and lived it to the fullest with her family and friends along for the ride.

Mom loved to travel and explore nature, a trait she instilled in all of us. As kids we were always packing up and piling into the car to go explore Pennsylvania’s woods, lakes, rivers, events, and historic places. Camping in New Jersey every Summer and playing in the ocean. Trips to Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Washington D.C., and Delaware. Mom loved family get togethers, cook-outs and holidays. Halloween, and Christmas were among her favorites.

Once we moved to Arizona, her love of travel only increased with endless new places to explore. Camping in the mountains, visiting the many National and State Parks, urban lakes, parks, Tucson, Mt. Lemon, San Xavier Del Bac, Tumacácori, The Chiricahua Mountains, The Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Payson, Woods Canyon, and Kaibab Lakes were all visited often. Her and Joe would often pack up her beloved “Miss Piggy” 1970 Suburban to camp and pan for gold in the Bradshaw Mountains near Prescott.

Mom was so happy to have grandkids around to spoil as our families grew. Somehow even with the loss of Joe and my grandmother, she somehow managed to keep it all together and even began making regular trips to Tucson to care for our grandfather. As her children & grandchildren began moving out of state, Mom would never be far away and would visit often. When she retired in 2007, she was finally free to really start traveling and enjoy life. She achieved her goal of visiting all 50 states and many of her treasured National Parks, visiting old friends and making new ones along the way. Many times, her friends Doris, Grace, and Gene would pack up and go along, taking the camper on months long road trips. Traveling to New Orleans, Branson, MO, Graceland, Salem, Maine, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Padre Island, TX and traveled the entire Pacific Coast Highway to name a few. She also traveled to Europe with her sister-in-law Gene, took a cruise to Alaska with her sister Kathy, and two trips to Hawaii with Matt’s family.

In 2015 she was glad to finally have all her kids and grandkids living close by for the first time in a long time. Once again, her home became the center of family gatherings. She still traveled occasionally, but more quiet hobbies now filled her time. Ceramics, Genealogy, reading, volunteering at the Gilbert Optimist Club, Gilbert Historical Museum, The Arizona Humane Society, working in her garden and back yard that she loved so much. She enjoyed watching her hummingbirds, lovebirds, cardinals, and woodpeckers, (as long as they weren’t on the house) and doing battle with the pigeons, doves and grackles with her nerf gun.

By 2018 Mom was on oxygen all the time and needed a mobility scooter to get around for anything strenuous. But she still wouldn’t allow this to stop her. She remained mostly independent with Kris’s immense help. We decided as long as she was safe, we would try to allow her to remain in the home she created & loved for over 40 years and be with her dogs Cleo & Bubba. I believe we honored that commitment. Even though her last years involved being mostly at home, she was able to take a trip to Los Angeles with Mike and Kristin to see the King Tut Expedition. See Shay graduate High School & College. Be present for Paul’s wedding. Last year she enjoyed one last road trip to Pennsylvania with her friends Kim & Grace. We had one last Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter together. A visit from Kathy earlier this year with a trip to her beloved Desert Botanical Garden and one last birthday get together for Mike & Paul with family and friends present.

Mom passed peacefully with family by her side. We can take solace in the knowledge we knew how much she loved us and that we loved her. I believe we are all better for having known her and she took a piece of our hearts with her. We will miss her for the rest of our lives more than she will ever know.

Thank you for your love, kindness, patience, support, always believing in us and being the best Mom, we could have ever hoped for. Your job here was well done, now rest. I can picture quite the reunion in Heaven took place with those who have gone before. I’m sure Doris was the first one there chastising her for taking so long!

With eternal love and gratitude.

Your family

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