Verna M. Hilbert

Verna M. Hilbert, 93, of Britt passed away Friday, March 10, 2017 at Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral Mass will be held Monday, March 13, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 139 3rd Street South East in Britt with Fr. Jim Dubert officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery near Britt.

A Rosary will be said starting at 2:00 p.m. at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West in Britt on Sunday, March 12, with visitation following from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know dear how much I love you, so please don’t take my sunshine away."

Those who knew Verna can still see her tapping her foot to her favorite song. Verna Mary Hilbert brought sunshine to everyone she met and her hugs had a tendency of making everything better. She wore her heart on her sleeves and never turned away someone when they needed love.

They say age is just a number, and although she was 93, her wits would tell you she wasn’t older than sliced bread.

Verna, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kramer) Lenertz, was born on March 30, 1923. Growing up on a farm in Saint Joseph, Verna was taught the same values that she passed on to her four wonderful children; Don, Nancy, Mike, and Sharon; to love one another even when loving one another seems hard, to always make time for prayer; to keep a clean house, even when you’re in your nineties and can barely move; to take time to thank your neighbors, and to take time to nap.

The love of her life, Milferd Hilbert, swept her off her feet to the sounds of German Polka music and the pair wed in the summer of 1949. They spent many happy days on a farm near Titonka and moved into their home in Britt in 1971.

Her kind nature lives on through her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, whose photographs were proudly displayed on her bulletin board in her room at West View Care Center: Don (wife Cheryl, children Matt, Nick, Jason and Jessica); Nancy (husband Denny, children David and Kristina); Mike; Sharon (husband Santiago, children Jonathan and Alicia); great granddaughter Zoey and many friends and neighbors too numerous to list but not forgotten. She holds a special place in the hearts of grandson Jonathan, his wife Kristina, and their expectant daughter Evelyn Verna Rey Aguilar.

Verna is reunited with her husband and dance partner, Milferd, and is predeceased by her parents and four siblings.