Laverne A. Weiss

    Mrs. Laverne Weiss of the Town of Port Washington passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at Harbor Campus in Port Washington, where she had been a resident. She was 97 years old.  
    Laverne was born on the family farm in the Town of Port Washington on May 30, 1924, the daughter of Ray Ansay and Rose Lorge Ansay.  
    She grew up in Port Washington and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School.  
    On Oct. 20, 1945, she married Lawrence Weiss at St. Mary’s.
    The couple farmed the family homestead north of Port Washington together until Lawrence’s death in 1984.
    Laverne was a parenting champion to her 12 children, 17 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and five stepgrandchildren.  All the normal child-rearing roles were multiplied by thousands across generations: the meals (including our daily lunches for school), rising early to bake fresh desserts, the cleaning and washing, the christenings, driving us everywhere and the nightly homework where she oversaw our work and transmitted to her children the value of a “job well done,” a skill that lives on in those of us she tutored nights around the dinner table at the Weiss Lake Drive Farm.
    Laverne was a friend to neighbors, a partner on the home farm, a lifelong member of St. John XXIII Catholic Parish (St. Peter of Alcantara Church), a member of the Homemaker’s Club, St. Peters Choir for almost 30 years, and, after Michelle’s birth, past-president and member of the Ozauke County Arc, all while never demanding the special recognition she so obviously deserved.
    When we dance, we will remember how Laverne loved to dance and how she gave that joy to us. When polkas are played, she sang and danced along, and now we do too, and we remember that she was always better than us at sheepshead and dancing.
    Laverne is survived by her 12 children, Daniel (Karen) Weiss of Random Lake, David (Sandy) Weiss of Arrowsic, Me., Larry Weiss of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Lindy (Roger) Bass of Fitchburg, Tricia Weiss of Maggie Valley, N.C., Peter (Brenda) Weiss of Belgium, Jerry (Teri) Weiss of Port Washington, John (Lisa) Weiss of Fredericksburg, Va., Debbie (James) Fedel of Pelican Lake, Donna (Mike) Mullen of Cedarburg, Mike (Jane) Weiss of Random Lake and Michelle Weiss of Port Washington.  
    She is further survived by 17 grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one sister, Carol (the late Oliver) Wetor; sister-in-law Jenny (Jim) Greisch; nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends.  
    She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lawrence and her sister Doris (the late Jack) Hansen.  
    A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 1 p.m. at St. John XXIII Parish, St. Peter of Alcantara Church, 1800 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington. Father Patrick Wendt will preside over the Mass.  
    She will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Mausoleum in Port Washington.  
    Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 9, at the church from 11 a.m. until the Mass.  
    In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Balance Inc. (www.balanceinc.org/donateonline).
    The Weiss family wishes to express great appreciation to Harbor Club and hospice care for doing all that we could not.  
    Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, is honored to serve the family.  
    Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.
    You were loved, you’ll be missed and you’ll always be with us.