Vera Crisafulli

Vera Frances Crisafulli, age 70, of Glendive, passed away on Sunday, February 29, 2004 at the Glendive Medical Center. A Vigil service will be held 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 3, 2004 at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, March 4, 2004 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Joseph Ponessa officiating. Rite of Committal will be in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements. Vera Frances Willis was born on October 3, 1933, in Langford, North Dakota to Leland and Agatha (Dehn) Willis. She was the fourth of six children. The family moved to Shelby, Montana in 1936 where Vera attended school and graduated from Shelby High School. Vera married Angelo Crisafulli in 1955. Vera began work as a kindergarten teacher in 1954, something she would do with devotion and a passion for over 40 years. Her only break from teaching would come in 1957 when she took seven years off to care for their young children: Kellee, Lorrie and Greg. She earned her bachelor of science in elementary education degree from Montana State University, Billings in 1970. Vera touched the lives of many young people in the Glendive community. In some families, she taught three generations of kindergarten. She began her teaching career at Lincoln Elementary School, where she taught from 1954 to 1957. She taught private kindergarten from 1964 until 1971, when she took a position at Sacred Heart Elementary for one year. The following year, in 1972, she began a three year term teaching at Lincoln once again. She taught at Prospect Heights School from 1975 until 1987 (a.k.a. The Little Red School) when she took a position at Jefferson Elementary where she taught kindergarten classes until May of 2001, when she retired. Vera was one of 25 teachers chosen to attend the NASA Educational Workshop Program, which was quite an honor. She participated in the National Teachers Science Association Convention for two years, taught Math Their Way to Montana Educators, presented at the Montana State Teachers Convention for two years, participated in design of the Kindergarten curriculum for the State of Montana in 1973, which is still being used today. Many of her ideas were published in several Teacher's Magazines. She had an annual papier mâché project with the children, which won countless blue ribbons at the county fair. Vera especially enjoyed working with her fellow teachers, students and parents. Vera was a devout member of the Catholic Church. She was a member of the Glendive Education Association, the Montana Education Association and several others. She was preceded in death by her father Leland. Vera is survived by her husband Angelo, of Glendive; two sons, Kellee Crisafulli of Woodinville, Washington and Greg Crisafulli and his wife Julie of Redmond, Washington; one daughter, Dr. Lorrie and her husband Dr. Gary Poteet of Laramie, Wyoming; three grandsons, Thomas Crisafulli, Dakota and Dawson Poteet. She is also survived by her mother, Agatha of Pasco, Washington; and her siblings, Bernard "Duane" Willis and his wife Frances of Kalispell, Montana Lela LaLacheur of Great Falls, Montana, Theresa Dunham of Pasco, Washington, Kathleen Sansaver and her husband James of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rita Glatt and her husband Eugene of Kennewick, Washington; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts. Memorials are suggested to: The National Neurofibromatosis Foundation in honor of Vera and her grandson, Dawson Poteet, 95 Pine Street - 16th Floor, New York, NY 10005 or the Glendive Medical Center Hospice, 202 Prospect Drive, Glendive, MT 59330.

Vera Crisafulli

October 3, 1933 - March 4, 2004

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Vera Crisafulli

October 3, 1933 - March 4, 2004

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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