Mary LaVerne Thompson

She was born April 22nd, 1936, in Louisville, KY. She was preceded in death by her husband Donnie Lee Thompson, her daughter Madonna Lee Thompson, her parents Mary Verlin (Cecil) Newton and William Permon Newton, her brother William Paul Newton and sister in laws, Kathy and Beverly Newton.

She is survived by her children Melodye Schueler (Matt), Cheryle Kuntz (Kevin), and Mark Thompson (Carol). She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Adam Thompson, Chad Thompson, Madonna Schueler (Ryan), Aaron Thompson, Matthew Schueler (Liz), Jacqueline Kuntz Goldsmith (Ian), Michelle Barbosa (Santi); five great grandchildren, Kaia, Greta, Lola, Finn, and Josephine; one brother, James Howard Newton and one sister-in-law, Karen Bond (Glenn).

LaVerne’s work experience started at the old Whiteheads Drug Store in Louisville where she met the love of her life, Donnie. They were married for 66 wonderful years. In addition to being a loving wife, mother, and homemaker, LaVerne also worked at the Bell Family Phone Companies and Seaboard Credit Union in Louisville, Baltimore, and Jacksonville, FL.

LaVerne’s favorite hobby was antiquing. She liked hearing the stories behind the pieces, especially the family heirlooms. What she loved the most though was spoiling her grandchildren with homemade fudge, cookies, and candy. She would celebrate their birthdays, summer vacations, and Christmas holidays by having pool parties, taking them on trips to the beach, and Disneyworld. She was always up for a road trip to celebrate their First Communions, graduations, and weddings.

As well as being a devoted mother and grandmother, LaVerne cared for her daughter Madonna during her leukemia battle and nursed her husband Donnie through his many years with Parkinson’s disease. Despite these challenges LaVerne maintained a zest for life with a deep faith in God.

Guests are invited to attend a visitation from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on September 20th, 2024, with a rosary at 7:30 PM, at Arch L Heady & Sons @ Westport Village, 7410 Westport Rd, Louisville, KY 40222. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 9:30 AM on September 21st, 2024, at St Louis Bertrand Catholic Church, 1104 South 6th St., Louisville, KY 40203, with interment to follow at Louisville Memorial Gardens West Cemetery, 4400 Dixie Hwy., Louisville, KY 40216.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to any of these organizations which were close to LaVerne’s heart:

Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome: (CCHS Greta Wermeling, great granddaughter) CCHSnetwork.org CCHS Network, PO Box 230087, Encinitas, CA 92023

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 Stjude.org Memorial Donation, Mary LaVerne (Newton) Thompson

American Cancer Society, PO Box 1640, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741 Cancer.org

Parkinson’s Foundation, 5757 Waterford District Drive, Suite 310, Miami, FL 33126 or Parkinson.org