Obituary of Erma Verow Landry

BREWER - On May 31st Erma Marie (Smith) Verow Landry went to dance with the angels. She left the world peacefully with members of her family at her side. Erma was born August 15, 1920 on Vinalhaven Island, Maine, the daughter of Maynard Waverly Smith and Abigail Isabel Candage. She graduated from Vinalhaven High School and left the island to pursue a career on the mainland. On February 18, 1940 she married Clement A. Verow and they became the proud parents of five children. The family settled in South Brewer and owned and operated a popular community general store, Clem's Market. When Clement died in 1966 of a sudden heart attack, Erma continued to operate the store for one year. After one year she chose to close the store and at age 48 and pursue a career in health care. She graduated from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in 1969 and began a long career as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She worked at St. Joseph Hospital, Eastern Maine General Hospital (nor Eastern Maine Medical Center) and Henrietta Goodall Hospital in Sanford, Maine. While working in Sanford she met a widower, Earnest "Cisco" Landry, and they were married in 1983. Erma and Cisco moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and she joined the nursing staff at Sunrise Hospital. While in that city she once attended to a man who had been shot in a store at that she happened to be shopping at. She helped him survive. On another occasion, she rescued a woman whose hospital bed was on fire. She also came to the defense of a nurse's aide who has being bullied by a supervisor. Cisco and Erma resided in Las Vegas for 12 years and returned to Maine in 1996. Erma continued her great work of attending to patients in hospitals and in private duty. She particularly enjoyed working on maternity wards and had the pleasure of being on duty when two of her grandsons were born. Erma enjoyed return trips to her beloved Vinalhaven with her daughter Carol Ann. She also enjoyed reading and writing poetry. One of her poems was titled "Vinalhaven, the Jewel of the Sea." She also enjoyed writing editorials and letters to the editor in various newspapers. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and always enjoyed family picnics and gatherings and never missed anyone's birthday. She was a wonderful cook and her specialties were whoopie pies and rice soup. Throughout her long life, she encountered some health problems but always kept a positive attitude that was an inspiration to her family and many friends. Although there were times when she would fall, she never broke a bone. "I know how to fall!" she would say. Erma's large and extended family will miss her; she was a truly wonderful matriarch. In addition to her two husbands, she was predeceased by two brothers, Maynard Waverly Smith, Jr. and his wife Val, Charles Smith and his wife Margaret, and by a beloved granddaughter, Julie Marie Verow O'Connor of Virginia Beach, VA, and two sons-in-law, Earl E. Wright and Olyn S. Dowling. She is survived by daughter Denise Wright of Citrus Heights, CA, son, Arthur C. "Archie" Verow and wife Frances of Brewer, daughters Carol Ann Verow of Long Beach CA, Katherine Dowling of Brewer, and Cynthia Moran and husband George of Winterport, and a step daughter Sandra Landry Allaire and Joe of Wells. Surviving grandchildren are: Victor Wright of California; Pam Nowack and husband Skip of California; Alice Hileman and husband Bob of Pennsylvania; Todd Verow of New York City; Suzette Furrow and husband Michael of Bangor; Grandson-in-law Timothy O'Connor of Virginia Beach, VA; Lois Stinson and husband Andy of Bangor; Danielle Norwood and husband Kevin of Readfield; Benjamin Rancourt of Camden; Joshua Rancourt and wife Julie of Dover, N. H.; Amanda Wild and husband Tony of St. Louis, MO; step-grandson Quentin Moran and wife Amy of Smithfield, NC; step-granddaughter Crescent Chasten and husband John of Massachusetts; and step-grandson Craig Landry of Sanford. She is also survived by great-grandchildren: Holly Hileman and husband Anthony; Andrea Wright; Aaron Nowack; Brandon Nowack and wife Sara; Emily and Jeffrey Nowack; Scott and Katrina Stinson; Katie Norwood; Patrick Norwood and wife Julie; Henry Norwood and wife Grace; Trudy and Lilly Furrow; Abby O'Connor; Ocean and Poet Rancourt; Sophie and Alexandra Rancourt; Owen and Liam Wild; Grayson Chasten; Samuel and Tristan Moran; Jordan Jarmin; Hunter Ward; Christian, Keagan; and Ciara. She was blessed with three great-great grandchildren: Luke, Everett and Caleb. She is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews who are the adult children of her brothers Maynard and Charles of Rockland and her beloved sister-in-law Marguerite Verow Thorne of Bangor. The family wished to express their deep appreciation for the kindness and support of Dr. Adam Lauer of Brewer for his care to Erma over many years. They also express their appreciation to Erma's extended family at Westgate Manor who always treated her with respect and dignity. A celebration of Erma's life will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2016 beginning 11 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Teresa's Catholic Church. A reception will be held immediately at the conclusion of Mass at the parish center across the street. There will be a private burial service at a later date. Rest well, our darling mother, you will live in our hearts forever. Those who wish to remember Erma in a special way contribute to the Activity Fund at Westgate Manor, 750 Union Street, Bangor, Maine 04401 or the National MS Society, 74 Gray Road, Falmouth, ME 04105. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.kileyandfoley.com