LaVerne V. Honn, 83, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2007 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco, Washington shortly before midnight. She had enjoyed a very active senior lifestyle before becoming ill less than two weeks before her passing. LaVerne and her twin, LaVone, were born on March 12, 1923 to Esther and Ernest Dunning on a farm in Graham County, Kansas. She was part of a busy dry land farm family with eleven children. In early childhood she remembered the dust storms of the 1930?s and the loving, family life they lead trying to make a living off the land. In 1941 she married Al Hamel and traveled with him while he served in the Army to various cities in the United States. They attempted farming outside LaJunta, Colorado, where their children, Ron and Brian were born. Farming being a hard life, Laverne and Al decided to relocate back to Kansas and eventually moved to Kennewick in 1959. Times were better, LaVerne made many wonderful friends, attended business school, worked at JC Penny?s, the Post Office and Battelle, but always kept in close contact with the many brothers and sisters and their families that were central in her life. She was quite impressed with President Kennedy?s visit to Hanford and would talk at length about seeing him and the shock of his assassination. On December 20, 1969 she married Kenneth Honn and was delighted to be a part of his children?s and grandchildren?s lives. She loved big families with lots going on, with lots of grand babies to hold and her life with him was rich and filled with family focus, as all of the families grew. LaVerne?s dedication to family was demonstrated by many phone calls to Kansas family members and her local extended family. Family and friends connection was a passion that kept LaVerne active and involved. Even after retirement from Battelle, she stayed connected with many past friends with regularly scheduled luncheons with friends from the Post Office and Battelle. Caring for Kenny was her other devotion and she stood faithfully by him until the end. LaVerne?s life style continued to be busy and family could not keep track of all her pinochle card dates, Red Hatter events, lunches with friends, trips, family parties and other busy events. Laverne is preceded in death by her parents, Esther and Ernest Dunning, husband, Kenneth Honn, her ex-husband, Al Hamel and by her brothers and sister, Ken, Richard, twin LaVone, and Stepson Kenneth Honn Jr. Surviving family include: brothers and sisters Oneida, Dee, Myrna, Gib, Jean, Jo, and Gary; Sons Ron Hamel and fiancé Lynette, Brian Hamel and wife Marilyn; Stepchildren; Celeste and husband Doug Marshall, Gayle and husband Raymond Kohne, and Carla and husband Jerry McLaughlin. Grandchildren include Adam, Greg, Elisabeth, and her husband Jake Holt with great-grandson Dylan. She is also survived by numerous other step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, loving friends and her special and devoted friend, Rich Kessler. Viewing will be Friday, February 9, 2007 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mueller?s Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union in Kennewick, WA. Memorial Services to celebrate her life will be at Mueller?s Tri-Cities at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 10, 2007. Graveside services will follow at Desert Lawn Cemetery in Kennewick. Please join the family at Mueller?s Chapel of the Falls at 314 W. 1st Ave. for a reception following graveside services. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to March of Dimes or a charity of your choice. Her life was full and this strong, caring, family matriarch will be missed by all surviving who were a part of her busy life.