LaVonne Marie Taylor LaFata

Our wonderful mother, LaVonne Marie Taylor LaFata, simply couldn’t stand being apart from her husband of 62 years any longer. She left to join him on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 after a brief stay at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. Born in 1922 in St. Louis, mom married our father Guy on the eve of WWII. She waited patiently for his return from the European Theatre and a German P.O.W. camp, and did her part by assembling first aid kits. Mom and Dad lost their first child but raised five more in the Catholic faith and in the traditions of that "great generation". Mother’s greatest joy was simply being there when her kids came home from school. She loved books, music, bridge and golf. She loved Europe. She was a volunteer art docent in our local elementary schools and was passionate about quality public education. She adored the Chicago Cubs. We miss her terribly. Mom will be interred along side dad at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri. Survivors include five children, Lisa LaFata Powell and Cynthia Ann Minen of Richmond, Stephen John LaFata of Los Angeles, Lance Anthony LaFata and Lynne Marie Loranger of Tucson. There are nine grandchildren including Amanda Kay Minen, Hannah Taylor Powell, and Lewis Franklin Powell IV, all of Richmond. We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers.