LaVerne A. Simmons, 81, Belleville, Ill.

LaVerne A. Simmons, born June 9, 1941, in Ireland, Indiana, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Belleville, Illinois.

LaVerne graduated from St. Louis University School of Nursing in 1964 and married Bill Simmons on October 17 of that same year. She worked as a nurse in Indiana while Bill completed part of his surgical residency in the Vietnam War, and together, they raised four children.

LaVerne was a past president of the Blessed Sacrament School PTO, the Althoff Catholic High School parents club and the St. Clair County Medical Auxiliary. After her children were grown, she furthered her nursing education and worked as a nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. LaVerne was a community volunteer, an excellent chef and an adventurous spirit. She traveled to every state in the United States and all seven continents. She enjoyed musical theater, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and St. Louis Cardinals baseball.

She was preceded in death by a son, Ryan Simmons; and her parents, Herbert and Emma Bartley.

She is survived by children Lisa Simmons of Belleville, Ill., Greg and wife, Kathy Simmons of Belleville, Ill., Pam and husband, Mike Liesman of St. Louis, Mo.; proud grandmother to Emma Liesman, Olivia Liesman, Rachel Liesman; a sister, Esther (husband, Tom) Kellams of Indiana; a brother, Joe (wife, Lyra) Auffart of Indiana; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials preferred to the Blessed Sacrament Grade School. Visitation from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Belleville, Ill.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Belleville, Ill., with Father Matthew Elie officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Belleville, Ill.