Laverne Louise Guilford's Obituary
It is with great sadness that our family announces the peaceful passing of LaVerne Louise Guilford on June 04, 2024, at her residence in Rocklin. Much-loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, LaVerne recently celebrated her ninetieth birthday in the way she most loved: surrounded by her family, enjoying a trip to the local lakeshore, a chocolate froyo, a live performance of her favorite music and of course her favorite drink: a grande hot mocha with whipped cream.
LaVerne was born to parents Joe and Loy during their tenure on Potrero Hill and was raised in the Portola neighborhood. She grew up with two brothers and her male cousins as her playmates; she could hit a baseball as well and as hard as they and could roller skate up and down the hills of her neighborhood with daredevil skill.
Working after school during her teens at the Taste Good Bakery owned by her mother and aunt, LaVerne graduated from Balboa High School. She began working at the famed Fox Theater. As the secretary to the booking agent, she met many of the 1950’s stars, her favorite being Marilyn Monroe who she described as very sweet, very beautiful, and very willing to sign autographs for the staff at the Fox. It was there that she met her future husband, George, who worked as an usher part time while enlisted in the Navy. George would later say that he saw her walk across the lobby of the Fox and knew right then that he had found the girl he would marry. He introduced himself during one of LaVerne’s coffee breaks, and the rest is history. Together they raised three children and shared almost fifty-three years of marriage before George passed away.
During her lifetime, LaVerne lived in San Francisco, Long Beach, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Honolulu, London, Harrow, Roseville, San Jose, New Orleans, Paris and Rocklin. She was very proud to be a second generation Slovenian-American.
LaVerne loved to drive fast and would race George on the Bayshore Freeway to ‘blow out the carburetor.’ She would tell her children and grandchildren, “If you’re going to drive, then DRIVE!” She earned the nickname Leadfoot LaVerne from her co-workers after she would always pass them on the highway on the way home. She acknowledged the honor with a sense of humor.
She also volunteered for her church, and at her children’s schools as room-mother, field trip chaperone, and cupcake baker amongst other things. She learned to crochet and would create baby caps for the preemies born at the local hospital, as well as standard sizes for the babies of her children's friends and co-workers.
Whilst George was in the Navy, he and LaVerne would often invite homesick young sailors from his ship over for a home-cooked dinner, some card games and maybe TV. They wanted these young men to feel like they were at home even for just an evening.
LaVerne loved her trips to Rome where she met the Pope, and the Alaskan Cruise, all arranged by her son and his wife. She loved to visit Reno and Las Vegas, where she met celebrities including Wayne Newton and Marie Osmond, who she declared was the most beautiful person, both inside and out. She loved touring Hearst Castle, trips to the beach, and to San Diego. She visited Puerto Nuevo with family, where she enjoyed lobster and graciously smiled when teased about how many lobsters she ate, a number increasing yearly as the legend grew.
LaVerne was a great card writer and correspondent; her family and friends looked forward to these missives especially on birthdays.
LaVerne was the last remaining member of her generation. She has left us to join those she loved who had gone before her. She will be missed so very much. May she rest in peace.
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