Bernadette "Verna Mae" (Rich) Kovatch

  Bernadette “Verna Mae” Kovatch, 73, of Wenona, gently slipped away peacefully at her home at 1:15 PM Saturday (October 3, 2015) after fighting a long battle with cancer.

  She was born on November 10, 1941 in Madrid, Alabama to Willie & Katherine (Austin) Rich.  She married John “Jack” Kovatch on April 23, 1960 in Panama City, Florida.  He survives.

  She is also survived by her children:  Frank (Ann) Kovatch of Durham, N.C., Sephora “Sophie” (Ray) Clapper of Indianapolis, IN, Marcia Kovatch of Wenona, and Michele Piquard of Woodbridge, VA; two grandsons:  Travis Crane and Dennis Corbin III; her siblings Sue Ford of Dothan, AL, Hershel (Mary Ann) Rich of Atlanta, GA and Margret Lena (George) Rogers of Dothan, AL and 6 nieces and nephews.

  She was preceded in death by her parents.

  She graduated from Dothan High School and had been a homemaker most of her life having also worked at the Beef & Brew in Tacoma, WA.

  She loved to travel and especially loved to shop.  She was an avid coupon collector and loved Christmas.  She was also a Crimson Tide Fan and secondly a Blackhawks fan.  But her true love was for cooking and her children.

  A visitation will be held from 9-10:45 AM Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church in Wenona followed by an 11 AM Mass of Christian Burial at the church.

  Cremation rites will be held following the mass with inurnment at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Wenona at a later date.

  The Hurst Funeral Home in Wenona is in charge of the arrangements.

  Memorials may be directed to Wounded Warriors or the Community Cancer Center in Bloomington/Normal.

  Online condolences may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.hurstfuneralhomes.com

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