Verna M. Plante

Verna M. Plante, 87, of Wichita Falls, TX, formerly of Iron Mountain, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2014 at the Hospice Center of Wichita Falls. She was born May 25, 1926 in Channing, MI, daughter of the late Robert and Cathleen (McIntyre) Fitzgibbon. She left Iron Mountain High School as she had to work and help support the family. She returned to night school at the age of 44 to secure her high school diploma. She then commuted daily to Bay De Noc College in Escanaba to secure her nursing degree while raising 5 children. She was a lifelong resident of the area. Verna married Thomas E. Plante on January 11, 1947 at St. Mary & St. Joseph Catholic Church in Iron Mountain. He preceded her in death on December 16, 2001, at which time she moved to Texas to live with her son and daughter in-law. Verna worked as a nurse at Grede Foundry before accepting a position at the V.A. Hospital where she finished her nursing career. She was a member of St. Mary & St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and the Daughters of Isabella. Verna was one of the founding members of the local St. Vincent DePaul chapter, serving as a board member and President of the St Vincent DePaul conference for several years. She was involved with all aspects of the store and pantry operation. She and Tom also served as foster parents and brought several children in who needed the love and support she had to offer. She enjoyed music (even taking up the guitar for a while), square dancing and reading, puzzle making, her work at Grede Foundry and St Vincent DePaul, assisting the poor, do-it your-self projects, and all the animals she had through the years. She mostly enjoyed the love of her life (Tom), her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. To her great grandchildren she was known as “GG”. She also loved to watch golf and her beloved Green Bay Packers on TV. She is survived by three sons, Thomas (Lorie) Plante of Iron Mountain, Michael (Mary) Plante of Clarkston, MI and David (Deborah) Plante of Wichita Falls, TX; two daughters, Cynthia (Scott) Sebaly and Mary Munson, both of Wichita Falls, TX; 9 grandchildren, Michelle (Brian) Olson, Mindi (Brian) Richtig, Megan Plante, David (Karla) Johnson, Christina Plante, Christopher Plante, Ryan (Courtney) Munson, Stephanie (Curtis) Isom, and Amy Munson as well as 14 great-grandchildren. Verna was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Fitzgibbon and two sisters, Alyce Schoen and Dorothy Fontecchio. Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on Monday at St. Mary & St. Joseph Catholic Church in Iron Mountain. A Memorial Mass will follow at 12:00 noon at the church. Fr. Daniel Zaloga will offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Verna M. Plante online at www.ernashfuneralhome.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Verna M. Plante

May 25, 1926 - March 23, 2014