Verna L. Wesa, 68, of 201 Mineral Rd., Ironwood, died early Saturday morning, Sept. 1, 2007, in her home, surrounded by her loving family, following a lengthy illness. The former Verna Gormley was born Jan. 16, 1939, in Hurley, daughter of the late John and Ione (Nelson) Gormley. She attended the Southside School and J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley, and graduated from high school in Milwaukee. She was married to George R. Wesa on Aug. 4, 1956, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, by the late Msgr. Michael Prock. They then made their home in Milwaukee for 12 years, moving to Ironwood in 1968. Verna worked as a clerk at Griebe's Bakery in Milwaukee, was employed at Simpson Electric Co. in Mercer, Wis. for 5 years, at Kodiak Corp. in Erwin Township and Bessemer, and as a certified nurse's aid at Hautamaki's Westgate Nursing Home in Ironwood and Superior Home Nursing. She retired as store manager at the St. Vincent DePaul Society in downtown Ironwood in Nov. 2005. Together with her sisters, Evelyn and Phyllis, she operated Sisters Catering in Ironwood for eight years. Verna was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and the Light of the Spirit Prayer Group. She was a member and former board member of the Salvation Army, a member of DOVE, and helped organize and volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry. She loved cooking and baking for her family, and took great pride in decorating birthday cakes. Verna was always there to lend a helping hand. She will be deeply missed. Surviving are her husband of 51 years, George, of Ironwood; two sons, Michael, Ironwood, and Mark (Laurie), Schofield, Wis.; three daughters, Christine Trolla, Ironwood; Rita Wesa (Leon), Wakefield; and Rose Wesa (Robert), Bessemer; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Brodi) Krznarich, Wakefield; Joshua Wesa, Rothschild, Wis.; Sarah Trolla (Andrew), Marquette; Holly Baross, Bessemer; Nathan Baross, Camp LeJeune, N.C.; and Ryan Baross, Bessemer; two great-grandchildren, Hailey Krznarich, and Hannah; her mother-in-law, Antonia "Toni" Wesa, Ironwood; two brothers, Wayne (Shirley) Gormley and Tim (Liz) Gormley, both of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; seven sisters, Odetta Agrey, Hurley; Phyllis Sunie, Ironwood; Marcella Rhiem, Sheboygan, Wis.; Mary (Henry) Pospeck, Hoyt Lakes, MN; Lois (Roy) White, Beaumont, TX; Evelyn (Donald) Hakkinen, Ironwood; and Elaine (Allen) Maderas, French Gulch, CA; sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Marlene and Ken Vuorenmaa, Ironwood; Theresa and Jim Brackett, Caspian, MI; Elizabeth Freese, Ironwood; and Sylvia and Sonny Minkin, White Pine; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides her parents, Verna was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Sandra Wesa and Larry "Benji" Wesa; two sisters, Carol and Hazel Gormley; and her father-in-law, Geroge J. Wesa, March 17, 1999. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Sept. 6, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will be held in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, with cremation to follow. Visitation will precede the Funeral Mass, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church on Thursday. Pallbearers will be Wayne and Tim Gormley, Don Hakkinen, Henry Pospeck, Joshua Wesa, and Ryan Baross. Memorial contributions may be made to Regional Hospice Services, in care of Grandview Hospital, N-10561 Grandview Lane, Ironwood, MI 49938. To view Verna's obituary online, sign the guestbook, and express condolences, visitmckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick and Engstrom Funeral and Cremation Services of Ironwood and Hurley