Sister Vernola Ann Lyons

"Sister Vernola Ann Lyons died Thursday, October 11, 2018, at Our Lady of The Lake Regional Medical Center. She was born June 20, 1940 in Mire, LA. Sister Vernola entered Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady on August 2, 1964 and made her Perpetual Profession on February 10, 1973. She obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from McNeese State University in May, 1964 and a Master's Degree from the University of Santa Clara in June, 1984. Sister Vernola served at Our Lady of The Lake Regional Medical Center as a Cardiology Staff Nurse, ER Head Nurse, and in Pastoral Care at the Lake and Tau Center. At Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, she served as Supervisor of Surgery & Obstetrics, Supervisor & Instructor of Nurses in ICU, Sister Visitor, Guest Relations, Patient Liaison in Surgery, Home Health Nurse and Catholic Service Center at St. Genevieve Catholic Church. At Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales, she served as a Patient Representative. Sister Vernola is survived by a sister-in-law, Shirley Ann Lyons, numerous nieces, nephews, family, friends, and her own religious family, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. She is preceded in death by her parents, John Sidney and Bernadette Bearb Lyons, siblings, John, Aaron, Leo, Curney and Virginia Lyons. Through the years she served on several of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady boards and hospital committees. Her faith in God, Franciscan vocation, nursing background, and her compassion to serve are just a few of the gifts she will be remembered by in her ministry in the Church. Visitation will be at St. Francis Chapel, 4200 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, Monday, October 15, 2018, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm with a Rosary Meditation Service at 7:00 pm and Tuesday, October 16, 2018, from 10:00 am until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Haiti Project, Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School, or a charity of choice.