Norene Vavra

Haverhill – Norene S. (Schmidt) Vavra, 70, of North Andover, formerly of Lawrence, died Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at the Oxford in Haverhill after a lengthy illness.Born, raised, and educated in Chicago, IL, she was the daughter of the late, Frank and Josephine Schmidt. Relocating to this area in 1997, she has lived in the Merrimack Valley for the past twenty-seven years. She was employed in Sales for various book companies in Chicago, and after moving to this area she worked in sales as a supervisor for the Eagle Tribune Newspaper.A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she was a great cook, and enjoyed nothing more than time spent with her loving family.She leaves her husband of forty-four years, Joseph Vavra, of North Andover, a son, Joseph A. Vavra, and his fiancé, Bethanne Destefano, of Dracut, four daughters, Linda Vavra, of Haverhill, Kathleen DeJesus and her husband, Edward, of Methuen, Debbie Stillwell and her husband, Perry, of Oakland, IL, and Julie Scott, of Lawrence, a brother, Robert Schmidt, of Minnesota, sixteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother, Richard Schmidt.Friends and family are respectfully invited to call on Wednesday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. (Rte 125) Haverhill. Funeral services will be held on Thursday morning at 10:00 AM in the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Hilldale Ave. Haverhill. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook, or www.comeaufuneral.com