Maryknoll, NY: Sister Veronica Mary Martin, M.M. died on March 16th, 2020 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She had just celebrated her 100th birthday a few months ago and was a Maryknoll Sister for 78 years! She was born in Philadelphia, PA to Catherine V. (Hopkins) Martin and John Patrick Martin; she received the baptismal name Anne Helen. She had four brothers and five sisters, all of whom have pre-deceased her.
Anne attended John W. Hallahan Girls High School, in Philadelphia, PA. Following her graduation in 1937, she enrolled in Pierce Business College for one year. She then worked in the U.S. Census Department in Washington, D.C. as a clerk until October, 1941.
Anne entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY on December 8th, 1941 (from St. Monica Parish, Philadelphia, PA). She received the religious name Sister Veronica Mary. In 1944, she made her First Profession of Vows on June 30th at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on the same date in 1947, also at the Sisters center.
From 1943-1947, Sister Veronica attended classes at Maryknoll Teachers College, Maryknoll, NY where she earned a Bachelor of Education Degree. In 1947 after graduating, she received her first overseas mission assignment to Hong Kong where she taught at Maryknoll Convent School. In October of that same year, she was transferred to Hawaii to serve as assistant at a Maryknoll Pre-school.
In 1948, Sister Veronica Mary returned to the Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she served her community for the next 48 years as clerk and typist: in the Direct Mail Office, the Congregational Archives, and as a Post Office clerk in the Maryknoll Post Office.
She then retired, but remained an active volunteer at the Maryknoll Sisters Center from 1987-2004.
Sister Veronica Mary had generously donated her body to science, but due to the current global situation with the Coronavirus, the New York medical College is not accepting bodies at this time. The cremated ashes will be buried in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery.
A Vesper Service and a Memorial Mass for Sister Veronica Mary Martin will be scheduled at a later date.