LaVerne Nielsen

LaVerne Nielsen passed away peacefully with her family present on October 10, 2012 in Walnut Creek, California. LaVerne Lucille Correa was born in Oakland, Calif. on January 24, 1920 and was raised in Berkeley. She married her childhood sweetheart, Harry Nielsen, on November 10, 1943, and together they raised three children. LaVerne and Harry lived in Berkeley and Oakland from 1943 to 1951, Richmond from 1951 to 1967 and in Tara Hills (San Pablo), thereafter. LaVerne and Harry enjoyed ballroom dancing, square dancing, playing cards, and getting together with family and friends. Following Harry's death in 1997 after 54 years of marriage, LaVerne remained in the Pinole area until 2009. She was active for many years with St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pinole and its affiliated organizations, including the Young Ladies Institute and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. During the last years of her life, LaVerne resided in Lafayette with her daughter, and in Alamo. In addition to her husband, LaVerne was preceded in death by her parents, Manuel Garcia and Sarah Serra, five brothers and sisters, her husband Harry, and her son Eric Nielsen of Livermore. She leaves behind her daughter, Kristine Quezada of Lafayette, her son, John Nielsen-Gammon of Bryan, Texas, their spouses John Quezada and Elizabeth Nielsen-Gammon, and Eric's wife Pat Nielsen of Foresthill, Calif., and many loving family and friends, all of whom were touched by her love, generosity, and joy. LaVerne was the loving grandmother of Jennifer Wilke of Reno, Nev. and her husband Larry, Rachel De Bord of Stockton and her husband Bob, and Liana Feuerbacher of Lafayette, and her husband Jacob. She was also the proud great-grandmother of Lane and Steven Wilke, Jessica and Erica Kirstein, and Matthew Feuerbacher. LaVerne's vigil service will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Pleasant Hill, at 7:00 PM Sunday, October 14. Her Funeral Mass will be at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pinole, Calif. at 10:30 AM Monday, October 15, followed by a private burial service at St. Joseph's Cemetery in San Pablo. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation or to the charity of one's choice. Vigil Service Sunday, October 14, 2012 07:00 pm Christ the King Catholic Church 199 Brandon Rd Pleasant Hill CA 94523 Funeral Mass Monday, October 15, 2012 10:30 am St. Joseph Catholic Church 837 Tennent Avenue Pinole CA 94564