Obituary of Verna H. Lane

Warrensburg: Verna H. Lane, 93, of Fourth Ave., passed away peacefully, Sunday, October 4, 2009 at the Glens Falls Hospital following a brief illness with her children at her side. Born August 13, 1916 in Athol, Verna was the daughter of the late William and Frances (Frost) Harris. She graduated from Warrensburg Central School and Mildred Elly School of Business. She worked as a secretary for Scott Smith Life Insurance Agency in Warrensburg before and after her marriage to George D. Lane, the love of her life. Together they resided in Warrensburg all their lives, raising and educating their four children. Verna worked for over 20 years as a secretary to the principal and superintendent of the Warrensburg High School. She was also the bookkeeper for her husband’s business, Lane’s Sunoco, and for the Warrensburg Cemetery Association. She was a lifelong active member of the United Methodist Church in Warrensburg and also donated many of her later years delivering meals-on-wheels with her husband George. Verna’s hands were never still. Throughout her life she was constantly moving: gardening, knitting, arts and crafts, caning, 4H Club leader, sewing, baking, cooking, berry picking, canning and freezing her garden vegetables, and reading. She was an excellent homemaker and a devoted wife and mother. She adored her grandchildren. Besides her parents and husband George, who passed on February 24, 2003, Verna was also predeceased by her brother, Desmond Harris. Verna is survived by four children: her son, Gene Lane and his wife CarolAnn of Tennessee, her daughters: Linda Lane of Glens Falls, Carol Burkhardt of Warrensburg with whom she resided, Donna Palmer and her husband Bob of Queensbury, and her devoted dog Stella. She is also survived by her 11 grandchildren, Kate McFadden of Pittsburg, Suzanne Sleigh (Todd) of Ontario, David Lane (Linda) of Nova Scotia, Nate Lane of the Philippines, Carrie Ruffo (Tony) of Texas, Chad Ross (Kerri) of Queensbury, Brian Burkhardt (Georgia) of Wevertown, Chris Burkhardt (Mindy) of Warrensburg, Colleen Beaudoin (Doug) of Florida, Casey Viera (Manuel) of Florida, and Lindsey Palmer of Florida. Verna was also blessed with 23 great grandchildren. The family would like to express their gratitude for the outstanding care by the nurses of the sixth floor at the Glens Falls Hospital: Anne, Jessica, April, Faith, and Doug. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Richards Library in Warrensburg or to Adirondack Save-A-Stray in Corinth. Friends may call on Verna’s family from 6-8 pm Wednesday evening at the Alexander-Baker Funeral Home, 3809 Main St., Warrensburg. A funeral service to celebrate her life will follow the visitation at 8 pm Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. David Schlansker officiating. The internment service will be private for her family Thursday morning in the Warrensburg Cemetery. Please visit www.alexanderfuneralhomes.com for online guest book, condolences and directions.