LaVerne Harris Pilinko

Born October 20, 1930, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to the late Edwin Harris, Sr. and Margaret Harris, LaVerne attended Union Springs Academy in Union Springs, New York. After High School, she began working as a bank teller at M&T Bank in Buffalo, New York, and thereafter joined St. Regis Paper Company in Kenmore, New York, working as a personnel manager. On December 16, 1948, LaVerne married Joseph L. Pilinko, following which the couple settled in Grand Island, New York, and had five son. In 1985, LaVerne and Joe moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where LaVerne joined the Jim Walters Paper Company, eventually retiring as the Director of Purchasing for the company. Following LaVerne’s retirement, her real work began, as she helped in raising her 12 grandchildren.

LaVerne’s passion was her family, and she told everyone she met about her five sons and how proud she was of them. She also loved her pets, and cherished Bella, her faithful Yorkshire terrier, who was a fixture at LaVerne’s side and dutifully defended her garden against squirrels. LaVerne was passionate about gardening and spent an immense amount of time tending to her home garden, often quipping that she would rather spend her time outside working the garden than inside cleaning her house. LaVerne was a member of the Mandarin Seventh Day Adventist Church.

LaVerne was preceded in death by Joseph L. Pilinko, her husband of 65 years; her oldest son, Donald Pilinko; her parents, Edwin and Margaret Harris; her brother, Edwin Harris, Jr.; and her nephew, Bobby Shaver.

She is survived by: son, Douglas (Trish) and his children, Jennifer (Shawn), Kristen (Bryan), Brittany (Drew), and Caitlyn (Adam); son, Reginald, and his son, Reginald Jr. (Kasi); son, Terry (Stacey) and his children, Nicholas, Christopher (Stephanie), and Lindsey (Ryan); son, Bradley (Lynn) and his children, Sydney (Lucas), Madison, Alex, and Trevor. LaVerne is also survived by her sister, Alverta Shaver; nieces, Kathy Briandi, Cindy Brennan-Coate (Jim), and Nancy Zimmerman (Mark Devine); nephews, James Harris and David Shaver; and 16 great-grandchildren.

A special thanks to Vitas hospice and palliative care.

A visitation for LaVerne will be held Tuesday, January 4, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens, Riverside Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32205. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 12:00 PM, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32205. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at Riverside Memoral Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the Pilinko family.