La Verne Rita (Wisnewski) Stephens, passed away peacefully in her home on September 6, 2023. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 16, 1933 to Lige and Josie (Slawinski) Wisnewski. La Verne is survived by her children; Roger and wife Mildred, Sheila Kraatz, Sharon Pendley and husband Buster, Michael and wife Suzanne, Glenn and fiancé Theresa, and her beloved Dalmatian Chief Hunter Stephens. Grandchildren; Amanda Mangum and husband Tony; Jason Kraatz and wife Donna and Zachary Pendley. Great Grandchildren; Arianne Flores, Alaina Mangum and Anthony James “A.J.” Mangum. La Verne was preceded in death by her husband Robert Stephens, Sister Natalie Mroczkowski and grandsons; Roger J. Stephens, Tyler G. Stephens and Benjamin A. Pendley.
La Verne was a Eucharistic minister at All Saints Catholic Church and St. Anne De Beaupre Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 101 and Associates of St. Paul. La Verne and nine other women started a rosary group on Tuesdays, reciting the rosary at a different home each week. She was a 30+ year breast cancer survivor. La Verne was very proud of her Polish heritage. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A visitation for La Verne will be held Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 5pm to 8pm at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd., Houston, Texas 77008. A rosary will be recited at 7pm by the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary court 101. The funeral service is scheduled for Friday, September 15, 2023 at 12 Noon at St. Anne De Beaupre Catholic Church, 2810 Link Rd. Houston, Texas 77009, with Rev. Eliseus Ogbonna Ibeh will celebrate mass. The Committal service will follow at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr. Houston, Texas 77038.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Anderson, Robert Fitz, Jason Kraatz, Gerald Lee, Tony Mangum and Zachary Pendley.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Missionaries of St. Paul Seminarians Fund
3607 Meriburr Ln.
Houston, Texas 77021
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Stephens family.
