Verna M. Vanness

Verna M. VanNess, 68, of Oak Harbor, Ohio, died Monday, February 2, 2009 at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio. She was born on November 12, 1940, a daughter of Clarence & Margaret (Wilburn) Clere. On June 13, 1959, she married Richard VanNess. Verna was the bookkeeper and assisted her husband in the operation of Dick's Body Shop for many years. She loved to bake and assisted her daughter in baking for the Bingo games at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Oak Harbor. Verna also greatly enjoyed tending her flowers, and collecting cookbooks, Beanie Babies, and turtles of all kinds. Her greatest joy however, was spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a loving and caring daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Verna is survived by her parents, Clarence and Margaret Clere, Graytown, OH, husband, Richard VanNess; children, Robert (Laura) VanNess, Powhatan, VA, Kelly (Alan) Berndt, and Darrin (Samantha) VanNess, Oak Harbor; brothers, Clarence "Ronnie" (Joyce) Clere, Jr., Missouri, Larry "Tom" (Pam) Clere, Bellville, OH, John (Ele) Clere, Mililani Town, HI, sister, Janet Herman, Genoa, OH; grandchildren, Nicholas (Misty) VanNess, Kenny Ray, Nicole (Jimmy Sipe) VanNess, Jessica VanNess, Libbe VanNess, Kevin VanNess, Kurtis VanNess, and Cody Berndt; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Mason, and her buddy, Landyn. Verna was preceded in death by her son, Darryl VanNess, and brother Jimmy and Bobby Clere. Family and friends are invited to call from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Friday at Crosser Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, where funeral services will be held at 10:30A.M. Saturday. Rev. David L. Ritchie of St. Boniface Church, Oak Harbor, will officiate, and interment will be in Elliston Cemetery, Elliston, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Boniface School. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserfuneralhome.com. Funeral Home: Crosser Funeral Home - Oak Harbor Chapel 301 N. Locust Street Oak Harbor, OH