On June 4, LaVerne Joseph DeCorte, 82, of Springfield, Va., formerly of East Brady, Beaver and West Chester, Pa., passed away peacefully at his home and joined our Lord.

He was born in East Brady, June 30, 1926.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Rose Ritzert DeCorte; children, John DeCorte (deceased), Susan M. McMillin and her husband, George, of Stonington, Conn., Ann E. Pucci and her husband, John, of Clifton, Va., and Stephen M. DeCorte and his wife, Kathleen, of Woodbury, Minn.; grandchildren, Stephen, Kristen and Amanda; and great-grandson, TyJon DeCorte of West Chester, Pa., Sarah McMillin of Stonington, Conn., Michael, Kevin and Stephen Pucci of Clifton, Va., and Madelyn and Cameron DeCorte of Woodbury, Minn.; and a sister, Lorraine Sherwin and her husband, Don, of Butler.

Vern honorably served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II and received his bachelor of science degree from Grove City College.

He was employed by ARCO Chemical for more than 30 years after which he founded LaCorte Inc., an international consulting firm.

Vern is best remembered for his love of life and family and by his positive outlook and infectious smile.

<B>DeCORTE</B> — Friends and family of LaVerne Joseph DeCorte, who died Thursday, June 4, 2009, are invited to attend a memorial service at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at the St. Eusebius Cemetery chapel, Third Street/Simpson Road, East Brady. Burial will take place immediately following the service.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Catholic Mass cards, a contribution to the Greenspring Village Benevolent Care Fund, 7410 Spring Village Drive Springfield, VA 22150; or by doing a kind deed for someone in Vern's honor.