LaVera Jane Thomas, 89, Secretary

She was born and raised in Mandan, North Dakota. In her youth LaVera was very active in her Presbyterian church activities and in Girl Scouts earned their highest award, the Golden Eaglet.

After graduating high school LaVera moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to work as a secretary for Canol Oil which was working for the war effort developing oil fields, refineries and pipelines to supply the building of the Alaskan Highway as well as air fields on the Arctic route. It was there that she met and married her husband of 65 years, Joseph, who was the US Army working as a mechanic building the Alaskan Highway. When Joe was discharged from the service they moved to Lorain, his hometown, and raised their family on the East Side.

LaVera worked as a secretary at Lake Erie Electric and volunteered her services for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels and PTA over the years. She was an active member of St. Anthony of Padua church. LaVera took loving care of elderly family members and neighbors and enjoyed entertaining friends and family in her home.

LaVera was an avid crotcheter and made 55 afghans over the years for friends and family. She was also a stained glass artist and gardener. She made wooden crafts with her husband Joe, baked and decorated numerous birthday and wedding cakes over the years, loved to bake bread and cookies for family and friends and was an excellent cook as well. She was a member of Bird Watchers and participated in counting species for their census. LaVera initiated a tree planting project at Eagles Park in Mandan on Arbor Day in 2003 to commemorate the 90th birthday of their Girl Scout leader Lila Weber and traveled there with her husband for the ceremony. LaVera enjoyed keeping in touch with friends and family near and far via the Internet. She and Joe enjoyed traveling to visit friends and were in Alaska and Canada for the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Alaskan Highway in 1992.

She is survived by her brother Albert of Seattle, cousin Lila (who was raised with her), brother and sister- in-law, Carl and Marge Thomas; sisters-in-law Mary Lou Thomas, Irene Thomas, Lillian Thomas and Debbie Thomas; son Terry Thomas of Atlanta, Georgia; daughter and son-in-law Celie and Frank Pawlikowski of Elyria; grandsons Tom, Scott and William Pawlikowski, grand daughters-in-law Tina, Patty and Melanie Pawlikowski and great grand children, Joe, Abby, Hannah, Paige, Sara, Billy and Jackson Pawlikowski. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe, sister Ruthie, and great grand children Faith, Hope and Thomas Pawlikowski.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, June 16, 2010 from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 10:30 AM in the funeral chapel, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain. The Rev. Joseph West OFM Conv., pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Michael Thomas Scholarship Fund at St. Anthony's Church 1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH. 44052 or to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net