GREENFIELD-Verona (nee Blesse) Lafferty, born June 1, 1914, in St. Louis, Missouri, the fourth of five daughters, died Thursday, April 2, 2009. She is preceded in death by her parents, Marie Hedwig (Koerner) and Franz H. G. Blesse; and sisters, Dorothea Predoehl, Ruth Blesse, Esther Otten and Martha Urban. Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Roger E. Lafferty; her son, John and his wife, Aline, of Troy, Michigan; her daughters, Eva Krebs and her husband, Rick, of Forest Grove, Oregon and Beth Lafferty and her husband, Larry Spears, of Indianapolis. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Brian, Michael, Alec, Heidi, James and Matthew; three great-grandchildren, Emily, Kyle and Ryan; and several nieces and nephews.

A devoted nurse, Mrs. Lafferty served as a Captain in the United States Army for over three years, during World War II as an anesthetist. She was a member of the 21^st General Hospital Unit, serving in North Africa, Italy, and France. She earned a Bronze Battle Star and the affectionate nickname “Gus.” Upon her return to the United States, she worked in various Veterans Hospitals in Colorado, South Dakota, and Indiana. She was a life long MO-Synod Lutheran, a life member of VFW Post 6903, Fortville, Indiana, and a charter member of the Women in Military Service of America. She finished five decades of nursing by working the last twenty years at Hancock Regional Hospital where she held many positions before retiring as the head nurse in Obstetrics. At her demise, she was under the care of a nurse whom she had once supervised 30 years previously. While many were the knowing recipients of her dedication and caring, there are hundreds of service members and infants who will never be truly aware of how much they benefited from her efforts on their behalf.

Funeral services for Mrs. Lafferty will take place on Monday, April 6, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Erlewein Mortuary in Greenfield with calling for two hours prior to the service.  Reverend Kennneth Ballas of Cleveland, Ohio, will be officiating.  Burial will take place at a later date.  Memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Lafferty may be made to Riley Hospital for Children.  Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.erleweinmortuary.com or e-mail condolences to sympathy@erleweinmortuary.com.