Veronica Grace Le Mons

Veronica Grace Kerr Le Mons, 97, of Harmony Senior Community in Suffolk, VA died on October 28, 2024 of natural causes related to a stroke. She died peacefully in Maryview Bon Secours Hospital in Portsmouth, VA with her daughter Kathleen at her side. Ronnie was born on September 17, 1927 to William J. Kerr, Sr. and Anna Nickold and grew up in a large, loving family on Gennesse Street in Trenton, NJ. She was a devoted Roman Catholic.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Ann Le Mons, and son-in-law, David Lafayette Cheek, both of Smithfield, VA. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and members of her extended family. She will be missed by her family as well as her friends at Harmony Apartments. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Albert Martin Le Mons, USN Ret., and her son James Martin Le Mons. All of her siblings preceded her in death: Ann McTamney, Viola Kerr, Edna Kerr, William Kerr, Jr., Edward Kerr, John Kerr, and Joseph Kerr.

Ronnie was extremely proud of her family, many of whom were musically talented, like herself. She possessed a beautiful soprano voice and she still sounded great at the age of 89 when singing the Star Spangled Banner. As a young woman, she sang with the Trenton Symphony Chorus and on a few occasions with the Metropolitan Opera. In her later years she was “First Chair” soprano with the Nativity Catholic Church Choir in Brandon, FL. If you had a few minutes to chat with her, she would surely tell you how wonderful it was growing up in a home that was always full of love and music.

Ronnie’s brother, John Kerr, met Albert Le Mons while they served together in the USN. Albert had never really been a good swimmer and the story is that John saved Albert’s life when all hands were forced to jump overboard while at sea to prove their ability to swim. (There is no way for the writer of this obit to fact check this story, but let’s just go with it because it's a good story, OK?) John and Albert became good friends and it was John who introduced Al to his little sister, Ronnie. Subsequently, Al and Ronnie fell in love and she became a Navy wife. They were married in Holy Angels Catholic Church in Trenton. As a Navy wife, Ronnie enjoyed the travel associated with frequent relocations as well as the self-reliance that Navy wives learn while their husbands are away at sea. Ronnie was a very patriotic woman.

The Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home in Hampton, VA has been entrusted with caring for her remains. Her ashes will go to Arlington National Cemetery where they will be buried with her deceased husband, Albert Le Mons. When Arlington National is ready to receive her remains, her family and friends will be notified about those plans. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of charitable gifts that honor either her patriotism or her love of music: Wreaths Across America or Virginia Opera Association, respectively.