Vera Priemer

Our dear Aunt Vera left us today, Tuesday, July 05, 2005, to mourn her to be with all our loved ones in heaven. Aunt Vera was born July 20,1916 in Chicago, Il., to Placido James and Carmella (Donato) Catania. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M., on Thursday, July 7, 2005, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Fr. Raymond J. Barthe officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Friends may call on the family from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 6, 2005, with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M., at the funeral home. Friends may send the family a condolence message or sign the guest book on-line at www.starks-menchinger.com. She is survived by her husband Eugene ?Gene? Priemer, her brother Mondie Catania of Walahalla, Mi. along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters: Tina, Martha, and Anna, and brothers: Bernard, Paul, Frank, Louis and Emil. Our grandparents owned the Hollywood Caf? on Red Arrow Highway (old U.S. 12) in Stevensville, Mi. She worked there for many years with the rest of her family. At one time she owned and operated the Victory Dinner (an old street car) and later the Victory Grill both on Main St. in Benton Harbor, Mi. Vera was a member of Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post # 568 in Stevensville. Although Aunt Vera never had any children of her own, she claimed all of her nieces and nephews as her children. She was loved and respected by each and became like a second mother to each of us. She loved to cook all the wonderful Italian dishes she had learned from her mother; she was the life of each family gathering, enjoyed dancing and instilled in each of us a deep sense of pride in our Italian heritage. She nourished each of us with her love and devotion to family. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Memorials may be made to Our Lady Queen of Peace in Bridgman, Mi. of which she was a member or Jordan?s Nursing Home in Bridgman.