LaVerne H French

May 8, 2018

LaVerne French, age 94 of Cresskill, NJ, passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. She was born LaVerne Harper to the late Charlotte Harper Jones and Luther Harper on July 14, 1923. LaVerne attended Tenafly High School then she went on to receive a Bachelors Degree from Jersey City Teachers’ College followed by a Masters Degree from Columbia University, focusing in the areas of childhood education. LaVerne’s lifelong passion for education took her to teaching early childhood in Baltimore, New Jersey and New York. She retired from the North Rockland School District in New York having dedicated many years teaching kindergarten in West Haverstraw, NY and Garnerville, NY. LaVerne was an early supporter and served as director for the Head Start Program in Haverstraw, NY. LaVerne was a member of the Alpha Kappa Gamma, an honorary international organization for women educators for over 25 years and remained a member at her passing. LaVerne’s passion for education continued throughout her life through teaching and supporting programs for childhood education through participation and gifts. LaVerne believed strongly in the commitment to Jesus Christ which led to the betterment and support of all lives and was a generous provider of her support and aid to anyone in need. We shall miss her devotion but rest as she sits with her Lord. She was married to Donald Erskine French who died in Jamaica after 11 years of marriage. LaVerne is survived by her four children Pamela French Summers of Whitman, MA; Donald Luther French of Cresskill, NJ; Kathy French Cunningham of Milton, MA and Robin Steward and her sister Grace Cabral in California. She also leaves 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews. LaVerne will be missed by her many friends and extended family. The arrangements for LaVerne’s passing shall be at Barrett Funeral Home in Tenafly, NJ with the wake on Friday, May 18 , 2018 at 7-9pm and services at Barrett’s on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 10am and burial at Brookside Cemetery in Englewood, NJ at 11am. Donations may be made in her honor to your local school organizations to continue to carry her torch for the enrichment of early childhood education. For further information visit www.barrettfuneralhome.net