Vera Caruso

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

She was born Nov. 9, 1921, in St. Louis to Ora L. and Gertrude VanEsler Brinker. She and Anthony "Tony" Caruso were married Jan. 13, 1940, in St. Louis. Four daughters were born to their union, and they had been married 58 years when Tony passed away Jan. 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 10 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 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, Missouri; 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 will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

Funeral will be 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 are by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.