DELHI TOWNSHIP — Laverne Noeth, mother of Cincinnati native Pete Rose, baseball's career hits leader, died Saturday in Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Noeth, of Delhi Township, was 84.

Mrs. Noeth, a homemaker, was active in her four children's lives when they were young.

“She was pretty much a typical mother running the boys to Knothole games,” said daughter Jacqueline Schwier of Delhi. “She liked to do ceramics and crochet.”

Despite having a famous baseball player as a son, her mother gave him no special treatment, Mrs. Schwier said.

“We all got treated the same. She was very proud of Pete. I'm sorry she didn't see him get in the Hall (baseball's Hall of Fame). I think if she's up in heaven and runs into (former baseball Commissioner Bart) Giamatti, she'll give him hell.”

Mrs. Noeth had lived in central Florida for many years before moving back to the Cincinnati area to be with her daughter about 11 years ago.

Also surviving are another son, David of Boyton Beach, Fla., another daughter, Caryl Schnebelt of Aurora; 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by husbands Harry “Pete” Rose and Robert Noeth Sr.

The service will be 10 a.m. Friday at Vitt, Stermer & Anderson Funeral Home, 4619 Delhi Road in Delhi Township. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Cleves.

Memorials can be made to the American Lung Association of Ohio, 11113 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati 45242.

LaVerne Rose