…she taught more than English; she taught values from life’s experiences, how to learn, how to form intelligent opinions and how to discipline ourselves.
Sister Veronica Liegey (Sister Maria Veronica) was born January 28, 1933, in Far Rockaway, New York, one of fifteen children —five daughters and ten sons— born to Gabriel and Veronica Webb Liegey. Veronica Gabrielle attended Saint Mary, Star of the Sea Elementary School in Far Rockaway and divided her high school years between Far Rockaway High School and Saint Savior High School in Brooklyn. She attended the College of Mount Saint Vincent, graduating with a BA in French, and taught for a year before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1957.
In 1970, Sister Veronica received an MA in Education from Fordham University. She later earned New York State Permanent Certification in Elementary Education Grades K–6 and English Grades 7–12.
Sister Veronica served for fifty-five years of active ministry as an educator on the elementary and high school level and in parish ministry. Her ten years of teaching elementary grades included Holy Name, Saint Francis Xavier and Immaculate Conception, all in Manhattan.
Her twenty-six years teaching high school English began at Saint Gabriel in New Rochelle, and the next twenty-five years continued at Cardinal Spellman in the Bronx as a teacher of English 9 and 10 and Advanced Placement English.
After thirty-six years in education, Sister Veronica accepted her pastor’s invitation to initiate a program for seniors, both homebound and able, in Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in the East Bronx. Sister Veronica devoted her next nineteen years to this ministry.
In 2015, Sister Veronica retired and lived at Mount Saint Vincent Convent until she joined the community at Cabrini of Westchester in Dobbs Ferry. It is here she died on April 24, 2021, in her sixty-fourth year of commitment as a Sister of Charity of New York.
Sister Veronica excelled as a teacher, particularly of advanced placement courses. A former student noted that she “. . . taught more than English; she taught values from life’s experiences, how to learn, how to form intelligent opinions and how to discipline ourselves.” It is fair to conclude that her love and respect for learning was absorbed in her family circle.
Sister Veronica’s ministry expanded the knowledge of the senior members of her parish through the many travel opportunities within and outside the country that she offered them. Anyone who knew Sister Veronica well knew a woman of integrity, a lover of beauty, and a seeker of matters of the soul.
Sister Veronica, Jesus reminds us that in his Father’s house there are many dwellings where he prepares a place for us so that we may be where he is (John14:2–3). In this sure faith, we rejoice as you are welcomed home by our loving and merciful God. Be at peace.
Date of Death
April 24, 2021
Age
88
Wake
Thursday, April 29 at 8–9 a.m.
Flynn Funeral Home
Yonkers, NY
Live-streaming begins at 8:30 a.m.
https://venue.streamspot.com/d286a8ab
Funeral
Thursday, April 29 at 9:45 a.m.
St. Margaret of Cortona Church
Bronx, NY
Live-streaming begins at 9:45 a.m.
https://venue.streamspot.com/217aa3db
Burial
St. Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY
Missions
Archdiocese of New York
- Holy Name, Manhattan
1960–63, Teacher, Gr. 6 - St. Francis Xavier, Manhattan
1963–64, Teacher, Gr. 7 - Immaculate Conception, Manhattan
1964–70, Teacher, Gr. 5, 7–8 - St. Gabriel HS, New Rochelle
1970–71, Teacher, Gr. 10, Eng., Rel. - Cardinal Spellman HS, Bronx
1971–76, Teacher, Gr. 9–10, Eng.
1976–86, Teacher, Gr. 12, Eng.
1986–96, Teacher, AP Eng. - Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx
1996–2015, Ministry to Senior Citizens
Thank you Sr. Veronica for sharing with me, teaching me and listening to my writing. Thank you for sharing your love. Enjoy being with God now… wish I could hear you tell us all about it!
My heart breaks as I read this. This woman was truly a “piece of heaven on earth”. Smart, savvy, down to earth with a true desire to teach for understanding. She helped to broaden my love of Shakespeare (I took her Shakespeare Survey class my senior year at Cardinal Spellman HS) and she taught me how to write a term paper (footnotes, bibliography, proper sentence structure and more!). I would not have survived and thrived in college without her gift of how to write. I was lucky enough to encounter her again at OLA and my mom was part of her community of senior citizens who took part in outings, church functions and even trips. She helped to fulfill my mother’s dream of traveling to Ireland with the OLA senior’s community!!! I am a teacher today because of some the values and lessons she instilled in me. May you Rest In Peace Sister Veronica knowing your legacy lives on in the lives of the people you touched during your ministry! May God bless you and keep you!!❤️
Thank You, Sister Veronica. You taught us so much. I owe my days at Spellman to you. Ed Hennessy ICS ’68, Spellman ’72
Sr. Veronic Liegey taught and shaped us up for rigorous learning at Spellman in 9th grade Honors English. I have clear memories of learning in the 4th floor library classroom and being challenged in reading comprehension, vocabulary and writing skills. Thank you for your service and commitment to student learning. Rest in peace.
Rest in Eternal Peace! You will be sorely missed at O.L.A. Your Fordham Alumni will also keep you in our hearts.
Sr. Veronica Liegey loved literature and I am so grateful for her devotion– and encouragement.
The Honors English class she taught on the 4th floor at Spellman H.S., was a wide welcome to the world of creative imagination. Her passion and commitment to written expression, academic writing and oral presentation skills opened our minds and hearts.
“The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.” May she rest in the infinite bounty of God’s love.
IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH JOY SISTER BROUGHT TO US SENIORS AT OLA 50 PLUS CLUB. WE FORMED FRIENDSHIPS THAT ELIMINATED ISOLATION TO THOSE WHO WERE LIVING ALONE AND INCREASED OUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. WE WERE TAKEN ON TRIPS THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE ON OUR OWN. MOST OF ALL, SISTER BECAME A VERY DEAR FRIEND . HER LOSS IS DEEPLY FELT.
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of Sister Veronica. She gave wonderful care and kindness to my sister Margaret at the OLA 50 Plus Club following the death of our mother in 2002. Margie was single, and Sister took her under her wing and introduced her to a group of wonderful new friends. Know that your family and Sister Veronica are in my prayers.
Sister Veronica will be missed. She gave us wonderful trips to places we would not be able to visit. May she Rest In Peace.
An icon in my and my classmates memory at Immaculate Conception where the consideration of Sr Veronica included a deep respect, deference, and admiration of her knowledge of English usage and grammar. If we misbehaved, she would tell us we were “skating on thin bologna”. She always put the title Mister or Miss in front of our last name when addressing us. I never remember her calling me by my first name. There was a little bit of the Marine Corp in Sr. Veronica. In every class reunion of ICS 1970, Sr. Veronica comes up with fond memories and a toast to her memory.