In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Veronice, CSC
(Elizabeth Ann Fisher)
Birth: May 28, 1927
Profession: August 15, 1951
Death: December 15, 2005

The Advent reading we’ve just listened to and the psalm we have sung speak well of the spirit of faith and joy embodied in our sister and friend, Sister M. Veronice.

Elizabeth Ann Fisher was born to David T. and Mary Virginia Skelley Fisher in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on May 28, 1927. To greet the new baby was David T. Junior (Ted). After Liz came Sally and then Jack.

The family moved to Los Angeles to St. Paul’s Parish, where the Sisters of the Holy Cross were the children’s teachers. No doubt it was their friendship and love, as well as teaching and discipline that implanted the seeds of a vocation for both Ted and Liz. However, Veronice herself said a few years ago that she attributed her vocation to her family, especially to her mother. She said that her mother’s devotion to the daily Eucharist was an inspiration to her.

Soon after graduation from high school Liz was off to Saint Mary’s, Indiana, where the novitiate was located. She and her friend Betty Ann Benkert broke the long train trip by stopping for a few days at St. Mary of the Wasatch in Utah. My traveling companion and I likewise stopped for a visit at the “Wasatch.” We heard such glowing reports of the two young ladies who had visited just ahead of us that we were eager to meet them. The four of us became friends, sharing the adventures of our beginnings. When the time came to have our conference with Mother Franciana prior to our reception as novices, Liz and I exchanged our thoughts about what our names in religion might be. Liz’s dad was David Theodore and my dad was William Theodore. We knew one of us would surely receive some form of Theodore to honor our fathers. Well, we know who did NOT receive the name Theodora and we never learned the origin of the name Veronice. She was so well named though, for later on she was frequently dubbed “Sister Very Nice.”

Liz had vision problems in our early days at Saint Mary’s so she designated me her “seeing-eye.” When there were community gatherings or when sisters on mission returned to Saint Mary’s, Liz wanted to know who was approaching so she didn’t have to let on that she couldn’t see who it was.

One of her early teaching assignments was first grade in Salt Lake City at Judge Memorial grade school. On one occasion a little girl announced that she wasn’t eating sweets because she didn’t want to be fat. One of the little boys dashed out of his seat, saying that he liked skinny girls and that was why he liked Sister Veronice. With that he planted a loud kiss on Veronice’s cheek.

Veronice didn’t remain a grade school teacher. After getting qualifying degrees she became a grade school principal and high school teacher. She concentrated on religious education in a variety of settings, the last of which was at the Valley Korean Catholic Center, although she remained a volunteer teacher and minister here in this parish to the day of her death.

Veronice adjusted well wherever she was assigned and just as she worked around the language barrier at the Korean Center, there were other barriers she accepted and worked through – and did so joyously.

She was dearly loved by childhood classmates, students, other teachers and countless associates throughout her lifetime. To have known Veronice was God’s gift to many of us. May she rest eternally and in peace for having been a good and faithful servant.

Written by Sister M. Theodora Abreu, CSC

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry With the Poor Fund, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.