MENDOTA – Verla June Shaw, 95, of Mendota, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2025, with family at her side.

At her request, services and burial will be private on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Cremation rites have been accorded. Rev. Mary Bohall will officiate. Wasmer Funeral Home is privileged to assist the family.

Verla was born on June 30, 1929, in Mendota, to Francis and Luella (Gustavson) Harvey and was united in marriage to Howard Shaw in Mendota on Nov. 22, 1975.

Verla will be dearly missed by many, including her daughters, Susan (Mark) Mosoff of Huntley and Cathy (Richard) Larabee of Earlville; stepson, David (Deb) Shaw of Amboy; grandchildren, Kimberly (Randy) Koehler of Peru, Nicholas (Karen) Larabee of Huntley, Ashley (Brandon) Swanson of Peru, Alex (Marcela) Mosoff of Palatine, Chelsie (Dan) Kelly of Volo; step-grandchildren, Joe Shaw of Amboy and Jill (Brandon) Brunson of Marysville, Ohio; great-grandchildren, Colson, Madeline, Annabelle, Brayden, Ayla Larabee, Ellen and Emersyn Swanson, Graham Kelly and Jax Mosoff; step-great grandchildren, Keaton Shaw, Macie and Byron Brunson; and her beloved sister, Mary Burnette of Mendota.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; her parents; sister, Gladys Karras; brothers, Ronald Harvey and William Harvey in infancy; brothers-in-law, George (Milton) Karras and Fred Burnette; and former spouse, Angelo “Gil” Kalemanoff.

Verla attended school in Mendota. She had a strong work ethic, was a dedicated employee, worked hard her whole life and was especially proud of her job as a telephone operator. She also worked at a photography studio colorizing photos, as a seamstress at the Mendota Trouser Factory and in her later years at Heritage Manor in Mendota, where she retired.

Verla was a talented seamstress and made flower girl dresses for family weddings, adjusted clothing for family and made doll clothes and costumes for grandkids. She was young at heart, always looking for an adventure, filling her passport book with stamps to Germany, Portugal and Ireland. One of her favorite memories was kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle in Ireland. She also enjoyed traveling in the U.S. including Hawaii, California, Las Vegas, Reno, Arkansas, South Dakota, and enjoyed collecting seashells from the beaches in Florida. Verla celebrated her 80th birthday with a bucket list trip to New York City to see the Statue of Liberty and to enjoy a carriage ride in Central Park.

Verla lit up from visits with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was sweet-natured, thoughtful and well-known for her famous chocolate chip cookies and cherry cheesecake. She enjoyed collecting recipes and was always looking for new ones to share with family and at potlucks when she worked at Heritage Manor.

Memorials can be directed to the family for a scholarship to be established at a later date. Condolences can be left at wasmerfuneralhome.com.