Verna A. Zerbus

Portsmouth, RI - Verna A. Zerbus, 75, of Sunset Ave, Portsmouth, RI, died on April 16, 2011 in Middletown, RI. She was the beloved wife of Joseph G. Zerbus for the last 50 years. Born in Westport, MA on May 24, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Margaret Lawton.Verna grew up in Fall River, MA and was a graduate of Durfee High School. As a young woman she began her career as a bookkeeper with a local car dealership. On February 18, 1961 she married Joe Zerbus. They moved to Portsmouth, RI a few years later and raised their daughter Kim. Verna continued to work as a bookkeeper, for the former Fall River Glass Co and for her brothers store, The Appliance Center in Swansea, MA. For the last 15 years she also helped her husband with his appliance repair business.Verna found great joy in Angels, she would travel to many flea markets and sales to rescue angels and bring them to her home. Her home is filled with over 2000 angels, and was known at some of the flea markets as The Angel Lady. She and Joe enjoyed many summer vacations at their summer camp in Limerick, Maine. Verna was devoted to her family, and included all of her nieces and nephews in her life. She is survived by her husband Joe of Portsmouth, her brother Cliff Foley and his wife Marion of Swansea, MA, her sister Shirley Imbriglio and her husband Raymond of Fall River, MA, her sister in law Lucille Foley of Fall River, MA, and her husbands family, Florence Corr and her husband James of Middletown, George Busse and his wife Ann of Middletown, Thomas Zerbus and his wife Ann of Middletown, and Karen Bower and her husband William of Florida. She also leaves her nephew Thomas Imbriglio and his wife Michele of Fall River, and many more nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter Kimberly Zerbus-Jacome, her brothers Roger Foley and Albert Lawton, her sister Lois LaFleur, and her brother in law William Zerbus and his late wife Joan.Calling hours will be held on Tueday, April 19 from 4:00-7:00pm in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, RI.Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 20, 2011, from Connors Funeral Home at 9:00am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. Anthonys Church, 2836 East Main Road, Portsmouth.Flowers are welcome, or donations in her memory may be made to a charity of your choice.