Vera Caruso

Vera D. Caruso, 96, of Jackson, passed away Thursday, September 20, 2018, at the Villas in Jackson.

She was born November 9, 1921, in St. Louis, to Ora L. and Gertrude VanEsler Brinker.  She and Anthony “Tony” Caruso were married January 13, 1940, in St. Louis.  Four daughters were born to their union, and they had been married 58 years when Tony passed away January 17, 1998.

The Caruso family lived many years in Illinois.  Vera was employed at the Missouri Lutheran Synod in St. Louis.  They moved to Jackson in 1976, and Vera worked ten years as a coder in medical records at Saint Francis Medical Center.

In their early marriage, Vera and Tony served as foster parents.  While raising her daughters, Vera served as a Sunday school teacher and Girl Scout leader.  She was an avid reader and also enjoyed sewing, quilting, and crocheting.  She was the oldest living member of the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

Loving survivors include four daughters, Sharon (Jim) Grafton of Coulterville, Illinois, Terry (Len) Richter of Topeka, Kansas, Bonnie Caruso of Centennial, Colorado, and Deborah (Francis) Siebert of Chaffee; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a grandson, Scott Richter; and a brother, Virgil Brinker.

The family extends special thanks to the staffs of the Villas and Crown Hospice for the care and compassion given to Vera.

Visitation is from 9:30 a.m. to service time, Monday, September 24, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

The funeral is at 11 a.m., Monday, at the church, with the Rev. Grant Gillard officiating.  Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Memorial Fund of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.