Sr. Veronica Frederick, age 100 of the sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, died Friday, August 11, 2017 at the convent. Born July 16, 1917 in Hamilton, Ohio, she is the daughter of Philomena (Nee: Hudson) and Albert Frederick.
She was the youngest of four daughters. The graduate of St, Veronica School, Notre Dame High School and the University of Cincinnati credits her early interest in religious life to her mother, and to the St. Anthony Novenas she prayed.
Sr. Veronica made a pact with God at age of 12 to enter religious life, and after consulting with her pastor, she entered the Oldenburg Franciscans on January 1, 1940, making final vows on August 12, 1944. This began her 32-year ministry as one of the Community’s finest elementary teachers and principals. Schools included Little Flower in Indianapolis; Holy Family in Richmond, Indiana; St. Gabriel in Connersville, Indiana, Rex Mundi in Evansville, Indiana, St. Anthony’s in Dayton, Ohio and St. Bonaventure in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she also served as principal. She served as a pastoral minister at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Covington and administrative work at St. James, White Oak and Sacred Heart Parish, Fairfield, Ohio before retiring in 1987. She returned to family ministry in Hamilton in 1989, eventually retiring to Oldenburg in 2002 where she remained active in serving the Community.
Veronica enjoyed crafts, candy-making and creating gifts for others. She celebrated her 100th birthday among friends and family in July. She loved her God and fully trusted that God will provide for the Community noting, “I think that God, who has promised us who have left our father and mother, a hundred-fold, always keeps his promise.”
She is survived by nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sisters Pauline, Ruth and Catherine. Visitation is Wednesday, August 16th, from 1 – 3 p.m. at the convent. Funeral services follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. Robert Gilday S.T.B. officiating. Weigel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Srs. of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana, 47036 (www.OldenburgFranciscans.org).