She was born March 13, 1928, in Goodrich, N.D., to Caroline and Thomas Mertz, German homesteaders who farmed with horses and wagons.
Verna was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Tillie, Clara, and Olga; her devoted husband, Henry; and her son Howard; and is survived by daughter Barbara DiOrio; grandchildren Daniel DiOrio (Jaime) and Jennifer Williams; and great granddaughters Paige Williams and Alana DiOrio; all of Orlando.
Verna lived in chilly Wing, N.D. after her 1947 marriage until retiring to sunny Florida in 1979.
She was a gardening-canning-cooking super homemaker who also worked as a nurse assistant hero in N.D. nursing homes and as a home healthcare aide for a variety of interesting people in Orlando.
Verna was ahead of her time in the DIY and arts and crafts movements and enjoyed creating for her home and friends.
Her strong, feisty N.D. spirit enabled her to live independently all her life, and her family is inspired by her example.