LaVerne Oyarzo

LaVerne Oyarzo, 1/30/1933 – 12/5/2014, passed peacefully at her home in Calistoga surrounded by friends and her dear brother, Ben. Preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin C. Oyarzo, and Alice Devany of Oakland, CA, Brother Robert E. Oyarzo (d.Gloria), nephews Michael and Mark Oyarzo, dear friend Janet Hay. Survived by brothers Benjamin T. Oyarzo (d. Anna) of Calistoga and Alexander Oyarzo of Yuba City. Other surviving relatives include nephews Ben, Johnny, Tom, Bill (Stacy), Dennis and Richard (Sandy) Oyarzo; Michael (Julie) and Steve (Zena) Pollock and Susan (Walter) Pollack Ward; numerous great nieces and nephews, and relatives around the US and Co. Wexford, Ireland.

LaVerne graduated from Sacred Heart Grammar School in Oakland, CA and Notre Dame High School, Alameda 1950. She graduated from Kaiser Permanente School of Nursing, Oakland 1954 and worked at Kaiser Oakland in the ER and eventually all units of the hospital as a supervising nurse. She went on to become the In-service Education Director and eventually helped set up the Nurse Practitioner program along with Dr. Stephen Toller at Kaiser 1971-76. She graduated from the first Nurse Practitioner program at UC Davis and later UCSF followed the curriculum that she helped to create. LaVerne built her home in Calistoga, and transferred to Kaiser Vallejo to set up the NP program there in 1976. She was the Supervisor of Nurse Practitioners from 1976 – 1989, while earning both a BA from Sonoma State and a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Counseling in 1983. She retired from Nursing after 38 years of service in 1989. Her dedication to Nursing and Kaiser Permanente has shaped and will continue to shape Nursing for years to come.

Not one to rest on her laurels and obviously a born leader, LaVerne became Vice Mayor of Calistoga in 1990 and Mayor of Calistoga from 1992 – 1997 in the city she loved. An active community servant, she was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (OLPH) and Women’s Club, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Eucharist for OLPH, National Council of Catholic Nurses, California State Nurse Practitioner Assoc., Native Daughters of the Golden West # 145, Life Member of Calistoga Library and Sharpsteen Museum, Calistoga Barn Raisers, National Pro-Life Assoc., Upper Napa Valley Republican Women and more.

A fun-loving person, she also enjoyed crafts, singing, swimming, movies, plays, traveling and her many beloved pets (“pups”) over the years. LaVerne was a devoted member of the community and touched many lives and will be sorely missed.

Arrangements under the direction of Morrison Funeral Chapel, St. Helena, CA.