VERA MARIE LARATONDA

Vera Marie Laratonda, 81, of Hollidaysburg, died on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at the Maybrook Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center, Altoona, following complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Friends will be received from 10 a.m.. until the 1 p.m.. funeral today, Thursday April 25, at The Good Funeral Home Inc., Altoona. Pastor John Collins will officiate.

Interment will take place in Alto-Reste Park Cemetery, Altoona.

Vera was born on Dec. 17, 1937, at the family home in Loretto, daughter of the late Paul and Mary (Sprout) Conrad.

She married Eugene "Gene" Frank Laratonda on March 21, 1987, in Hershey. He preceded her in death on Jan. 1, 2015.

Surviving are three daughters: Denise (Reiger) Sayegh and husband Michael of Castro Valley, California, Barbara Reiger of Altoona and Carol (Reiger) Huebner and her husband Bernie of Fort Royal, Virginia; one son: R. Scott Reiger and his wife Brenda of Mechanicsville, Maryland, and eight stepchildren: Eugene "Skip" Laratonda of Pittsburgh, Lonnie Laratonda and his wife Beverly of Hollidaysburg, Craig Laratonda and wife Jennifer of North Huntingdon, Brad Laratonda of Fairfield, Illinois, and Lance, Brian, Seth and Hedy Laratonda, all of Hollidaysburg; 25 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Lanore (Conrad) Cole of Greenville, South Carolina, and Gladys (Conrad) Aranda of Pasadena, California; and three brothers: Bob Conrad and wife Jackie of Tucson, Arizona, Myrle Conrad and wife JoAnn of Parma, Ohio, and Jim Conrad and wife Vicky of Lodi, Ohio.

Vera was preceded in death by a brother: Joe Conrad; and by two sisters: Laverne Conrad and Doris (Conrad) Bisney.

Vera graduated from Cambria High School in 1955.

She and her husband, Gene, owned and operated the Capital Hotel and Pipe Room in Hollidaysburg for more than 20 years. They also managed and operated the Kitty Hawk restaurant at the Altoona-Blair County Airport in Martinsburg PA for 10 years.

After retiring from the restaurant business, Vera worked part time at the Riverside Market in Hollidaysburg and at McIntyre's Candies in Altoona.

She enjoyed cooking and was great at it, she loved to work in the yard and in her flower garden.

Her most important interest became her beloved husband and personally taking care of him during his final years.