LaVera Sundstrom

Mrs. LaVera Sundstrom, 76, of Ocean Springs,, passed away on the morning of Monday, October 2, after a brave battle against gall bladder cancer. She was diagonosed in late June, 2006. LaVera was born in Brownsdale Township, Minnesota. She lived in southeastern Minnesota until she met and married her husband, Sidney in 1951. During their marriage they enjoyed travel to the Far East and Europe. They lived in various states and settled in Ocean Springs in 1969. She was the bridal consultant in the china and gifts department for Gayfers Department Store (now Dillards) for 18 years. She retired from this job in 1993. LaVera was an active member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Ocean Springs, since 1972, where she served on the Alter Guild, preparing for the communion services for 18 years. She was an active member of Women of the ELCA and recently had served as Treasurer of her local chapter. She had also worked as the co-coordinator for the congregation's work at the Lord Is My Help. LaVera was a volunteer in the Ocean Springs Hospital Auxiliary since 1997, where she worked regularly in the hospital gift shop. She was also an active member in the Day Lily Garden Club, Ocean Springs, and had held several offices in that organization. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alma and Emil Dulitz, her sister, Anelda Blanchard and her brother, Norman Dulitz, all of Minnesota. Survivors include her husband of 54 years, M. Sidney Sundstrom, her children, Katherine Sundstrom, M.D., of Brooklyn, NY, Steven Sundstrom and his wife, Ellen of Appleton, Wisconsin, Ann Teitel and her husband Alan of Port Washington, NY, and Dawn Sundstrom and her partner Mitzi Griffin of Greenboro, NC, her stepsons, Bill and Brian Sundstrom, both of Minnesota, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 4, 2006, from 7-9 PM, at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2006, at 10:30 A.M. at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs. Burial will follow at the Biloxi National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be sent to Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs or to the American Cancer Society.