Ann Lorene (Cervera) LaPoint
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** The Celebration of Ann’s life and Open House HAS BEEN POSTPONED. We will have updated information on rescheduling when it is possible to reschedule.**
Ann Lorene (Cervera) LaPoint 77, passed away on December 23, 2019 while at Bridge Haven Senior Assisted Living and Memory Care Home in Lawrence. Kansas.
Ann was born in Chicago, Illinois to Dr. Dominic Cereva and Nina (Wandrey) Cervera on October 23, 1942. She grew up and attended public schools in Chicago Heights, Illinois. While a senior in his school Ann got her start in acting and singing by having the leading role in the production of Brigadoon. She played Fiona. After high school, Ann attended the University of Illinois, ChampaignUrbana, earning a B.A. degree in Music Education.The following fall, she began her graduate work towards a master’s degree in Music Education. In her first graduate class, another first year graduate student sat down by her by the name of Jim LaPoint. He learned her name from the roster sheet and they began to work on research papers together. That was early September, they began dating. She took him home to meet her parents for Thanksgiving and Jim had her come to Quinnesec, Michigan for New Years. They were engaged on Valentine’s Day and were married on June 26, 1965 in Chicago Heights, Illinois. In the fall of 1965, they both got teaching jobs in the same school district in Bradley-Bourbonius, Illinois. Ann taught junior high music and Jim taught elementary school physical education. In the early summer of 1967, their first son (Michael) was born. Later that same year they moved to Marquette, Michigan, where Jim had received his B.S. degree in Physical Education to teach in the undergraduate P.E. program. While in Marquette, their second son (Mark) was born in 1968. In the summer of 1969, the family moved to Toledo, Ohio for Jim to began work on his Ph.D. in Physical Education. The third son (Matt) was born there in 1971. They were living on Jim’s assistantship salary but made things work out with three small children. Ann got her start in stage productions by singing with the Toledo, Ohio Opera Company. She performed in the Opera LaTraviata. Jim graduated with his doctoral degree in the summer of 1972 He was hired as an Assistant professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis-St. Paul. While there, son number four (Mitchell) was born in 1976.In 1978, the family moved from the Twin Cities to this little know place of Lawrence, Kansas. The neighbors thought they were moving to the end of the world!! Jim took a faculty position of Associate Professor of Physical Education. With four small children, Ann stayed home to raise them. When they all were in school, she began a 30 year career as a substitute teacher. Students loved having her as a “sub” knowing she meant business with no excuses for misbehaving. She now had time for her real passion, doing acting, dancing, and singing in Community Theatre productions. Over the course of her time in Lawrence she was in over 30 productions. She attended many shows at the new Theatre Lawrence, but did not get to perform in any of them. Ann was a member of two different bridge groups. She was an avid reader and loved to do crossword puzzles.
Ann is survived by Jim, her husband, of 54 years. Sons Mike – wife Jenny, children – Michael, Chloe, and Mia in Waco, Texas. Mark, wife Jill, children Sophia and Dominic, of Lawrence, Matt wife Dana children – Elle and Gina in Valencia, California, and Mitch, wife Jenny – children – John and Sam in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Step-granddaughter Caitlin Todd and her husband Evan in Manhattan, Kansas. She also leaves behind a brother Louis, his wife Wendy and sons Wagner and Alexander Cervera all of Chicago Heights, Ill.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Theatre Lawrence and may be send in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary 120 W. 13th Street Lawrence, KS 66044.
Mike, Mark, Matt, Mitch and family,
I’m so sorry to hear about your Mom. I hadn’t seen her for many years, but I still remember her being so nice during our days at West, and also during Mike’s and my time at KSNT. She was certainly a special lady. Thinking of you all and sending good thoughts your way.
Dear Lapoint Family,
I am so grateful being able to meet and enjoy Ann’s many talents. Ann will be a loss to our community as well as her many family and friends.
Much love to you all,
Steve and Genee Figuieras
LaPoint family.
Many Condolences, RIP
Ken and Annette Wertzberger
Dear LaPoint Family,
Our sincere sympathies in the loss of Ann. She was a delightful person and an accomplished performer. She will surely be missed. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dennis and Gail Meier
Jim and family
my condolences on your great loss. Ann will be missed by many> She was always a delight to be around
Please accept our deepest sympathies!
Dear Jim and family:
Judy and I offer our sincere sympathy. Ann was a delight. She loved doing theatre and was a wonderful talent. We enjoyed every moment with her. Our thoughts are with you.
Jim and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Ann was a wonderful woman and a true original.
Mark, Matt, and family,
I was sorry to read of your mom’s passing and instantly thought of how much you all carry that sweet spirit that is reflected in her eyes. You are all in our prayers and Michael and I are sending lots of love to you. God bless.
Dr LaPoint,
So sorry to hear of your wife’s passing. Peace and comfort to you and your family.
Dear LaPoint family:
We are so sorry to hear of Ann’s passing. We always enjoyed seeing her and Dr LaPoint in the neighborhood and bumping into them at Dillons, etc. They were a great team and we will miss her!
I am so sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful lady. I appreciate all the years that she gave as a substitute teacher. She was very proud of her family and had great stories to share about the kids and grandkids. She was a treasure!
Dear Jim,Mike,Mark,Matt,Mitch and all your family, Our hearts are breaking for all of you. Ann had such a big personality and talent it is hard to conceive of the world without her in it. The joy she brought to her family and friends plus all those who were blessed to be entertained by her talent was her special gift. It was so much fun to run into Ann at the store or out somewhere and catch up on her family and her busy life. I honestly don’t think in all the years I knew her I ever saw her without a smile on her beautiful face and joy in her heart. Everyone who knew Ann was always happy to see her. Sending all of you our love and prayers during this time.
Jim:
Sorry to learn about Ann’s passing. Kindly accept our deepest and sincere condolence. May the Almighty God comfort and give you and the family inner peace which passes all human understandings. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Matthew & Rachel Adeyanju
Big Rapids, Michigan.
Dear LaPoint family:
So sorry to hear about Ann’s passing. I have so many fond memories of her from growing up near you all. She was always so open and inviting to us. Thoughts and prayers to all of you!
Dear MItch –
Your mom was the sweetest lady, so many fond memories. Sorry for your loss.
Mike and Susan Turrentine
Ann was the premiere sub who we all wanted to cover our classes at West. She took the effort to know the students and they knew her. Lessons were covered, good behavior was expected and all went smoothly. And I was lucky enough to also have her sons in my classes.
My respect and sympathy to the family.
Jim and Family
I had the great pleasure meeting ann when I worked for Walgreens. Her smile always brighten my day. She always had a hug when she would come in. I always loved listening about her wonderful family especially sofia. She was so proud of everything she done. She was always proud of everyone. I loved watching her eyes sparkle and dance when she talked about her sweetheart Jim. Ann will be greatly missed.
Dear Lapoint Family,
We are sorry to read about the passing of Ann who wore so many hats in her life. We remember her as a kind and gracious person. We also remember her for her dancing skills that she featured with her husband of many years at a School of Education get-together. You have our heartfelt condolences. You are in our thoughts at this time of sorrow. Jim, we are especially thinking of you as a fellow prof in the KU SOE.
Bob and Beth Harrington
Jim & family: I met Ann 55 years ago when our grade schools combined for an orchestra concert at the junior high. We both played the violin & ended up in the same homeroom. We walked to school many times & hung out all through high school. I have so many memories but I just found out tonight that Ann passed away so am unable to write more. She was so much fun…always so vibrant. What a loss! Much love to all. JoAn
Oops!! I met Ann 65 years ago (and I was a math major) JoAn
Jim & family: I will never forget Ann’s joyful energy and her ability to keep me and all her friends moving. She was such fun to be around and we spent lots of time during high school doing teenage dumb things. One Friday evening I was driving us around and when I got home my dad said, you put 200 miles on the car tonight. Where did you go? I said just back & forth between here (Chicago Heights) and Homewood and around and about. Which was the truth–we sang to the radio, went for pizza and tried to meet up with our friends.
Ann had a juke box in her basement and we had great parties and sleepovers there. We spent lots of time @ the Indiana Dunes on the beach–trying to get a tan and….pick up boys…
Ann had a beautiful voice & I loved being in Glee Club with her while JoAnn played the violin in orchestra. Such great memories of high school fun. We all loved Ann!
We will miss her presence!
Dear Lapoint family:
We would like to extend our condolences and sympathies for your loss. We will always have fond memories of Ann, especially from the time we lived just down the street from you on Longhorn Drive from 1979-87. Our thoughts are with you all.
Dear Jim and family,
We send our send condolences and join you in missing Ann. Her sunny, enthusiastic, energetic personality was obvious from our first meeting at a School of Education dinner group. It was always a joy to talk with her and feel better about the world. Gary has fond memories of sharing performance experiences in “Music Man” and we both enjoyed her performances in shows over the years. She was a lovely, talented, warm person and we were glad to know her.
Dear Jim and kids, my sincere sympathy for all of you on the loss of your wife and mom. She was a vibrant and warm woman.
Dr. LaPoint and family,
Oscar and I would like to express our sincere sympathy to you and your family on the passing of your wife and mom. May your memories of her warm your hearts and your love for her help you as you heal from her loss. We are thinking you you during this sad time.
Mitch and family,
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your dear Mother and Wife.
I had the joy of working with her once at the Community Theater. Saw her quite often as she did her grocery shopping.
Prayers for Ann and her family.
Dear Jim and family,
Sending condolences at the loss of your beautiful wife, Ann. Ann taught me the ropes at the community theatre…what a great talent she was, always smiling and cheerful, and knowing just exactly what to do in every scene! I watched, I learned a lot…what a great teacher! And, I was always excited to hear when she had subbed for my kids at West Junior High. She was truly a wonderful lady, and I will miss her.
I send my love and sorrow for your loss. Ann was absolutely my favorite teacher. I loved watching her in the theater performances as well. The Joyce family will always have fond memories of Ann to share.
Dear Mitch,
I’m so sorry. You’re sweet mom was fantastic. I loved her so much, she was so nice to me always. And I always appreciated that. Thinking of you and sending prayers. Love always, Regye
Dr. LaPoint,
Scott and I are so sorry for your loss. Fifty-four incredible years of marriage and a terrific family. May you find some comfort in those memories.
She was one of my substitute teacher in Lawrence long time ago 🙂