Mrs. Verna was one of those people that come along once in your lifetime.
She made everyone else's life around her better.  You can hear it in the way
that people say her name-with such affection in their voice.
The first time that I met Mrs. Verna was when Ken and I were on our first date.  He wanted to stop at their house before we went to Pontchatrain Beach.  I was a little nervous thinking that I probably had to pass inspection.  We pulled
up in the driveway and there was Mrs. Verna at the front door looking
through the screen door.   The first thing that I noticed about her were her
beautiful, bright, blue eyes.  They expressed so much joy and sweetness.  It
turned out that she was not about judging people, she was about including
people.
It took awhile before I realized who all these people were in that house on
Wildair Dr.  Each time that I visited the house there were different
combinations of  Ken's 6 siblings, friends of the 6 siblings, cousins,
aunts, uncles and neighbors.  It was a little intimidating for a shy person.
This house was always busy.  But the really amazing thing was that Mrs.
Verna could make you feel that you were the most important person in the
world even in the middle of all this chaos-telephone constantly ringing,
babies laughing and crying, kids running round and round the circle
beginning in the kitchen through the den, then bathroom, living room and
back to the kitchen, people walking in and out. The house was like Grand
Central Station and she was the Master Engineer keeping everything running
perfectly (and with a beautiful smile on her face).  Her dining room was
often used as an informal mail system among family members. You could pick
up and drop off things for anyone in the family and she would get it to that
person. If you were hungry, there was always great food.  If you needed a
ride somewhere, she would arrange it.  If you just needed someone to listen
to you, she was right there.  When I needed help halfway across the world in
Belgium, she made all the arrangements and had my mom and Mr. Ken there in
less than 24 hours.  I initially thought that this lady was too good to be
true.  But she was the real deal.
On one of those initial visits, she noticed that I didn't eat the peas she
served.  After that, whenever I was there, she had my favorite-LeSeur peas.
I was surprised that she would remember this and do that for me.  But it
wasn't just for me, I noticed that she did this for everyone.  She ran her
kitchen like a restaurant.  She knew that one grandchild (I think that it
may have been Bean) did not like onions in the meatballs so she fixed some
meatballs with and some without.  She had her little fryer ready to cook
French fries whenever the grandchildren came bounding in.  She would whip up
macaroni and cheese as soon as Caitlin came in the door and brought out
frozen fruit for Devin.  That is another incredible thing about Mrs.
Verna-her ORGANIZATION.    How could she store all that food and groceries
in that tiny kitchen and adjoining cabinet?  When you arrived in that
kitchen, freshly  baked cookies and cakes would be brought out from various
cabinets in the kitchen and throughout the house.  They were often in hiding
places to make sure that Mr. Ken did not find them and have too many sweets.
I would love to have an estimate of the total number of birthday cakes,
upside down pineapple cakes, sesame seed cookies, and chocolate chip cookies
that went out of that kitchen.  I am sure the number is mind boggling.
How she kept everything straight, I will never know.  But I do know that she
was one of the sharpest people that I have ever known.  She could readily
recall everyone's birthdates, all of 7 kids' teachers' names from
kindergarten through high school, comparative grocery prices at Ferrara's vs
Pap's vs Schwegmanns, etc, etc.  Even in her later years, when she was very
upset with her memory, it was still better than mine.  Ken told me that Mr.
Ken would turn over his paycheck to Mrs. Verna and late at night, she would sit
at that famous kitchen table and figure out how to rob Peter to pay Paul to
feed, clothe and send SEVEN children to private Catholic schools on one post office worker's salary.  With her financial skills and cash flow management  she could have been a Chief Financial Officer of a major corporation.   She always had strategies as to how to make it to the next check.  I think that Ken inherited that from Mrs Verna although I often call his strategies, “schemes”.  When I was 16 years old and was punished from seeing Ken (which was my usual punishment), he came up with a scheme, that my parents would have to relent and let me see him if he entered me into the contest to choose a Senior Maid at Jesuit's Military Ball with all its parties and festivities. His scheme worked and when I was in the convertible waiting to go into Tad Gormley stadium, to my great surprise, I saw a little lady going from car to car looking for me to tell me congratulations.  Of course, it was Mrs. Verna.  She didn't have much time, as we all know she was an extremely busy lady, but wanted to make sure that she found me and told me that.  Over the years, I have often thought about that moment of seeing her running around looking for me to make sure that she participated in my special moment.  It meant a lot to me.
Most of the people here today were affected by one event that happened in Mrs. Verna's life-that fateful day when a cute, young sailor walked into a USO dance in New Orleans after WWII and met a pretty redhead with the bright eyes and big smile.  Wouldn't you have loved to have been a fly on the wall to witness that meeting?  It was probably the very first time out of probably thousands , that he told her one of his sweet travelling stories and then she rolled her eyes at him.  Obviously, it was an important meeting that turned out to be very successful and very productive and very important to all of us.
Mrs. Verna was a very modest person.  A couple of months ago, I watched her reaction as Ken told her that he was going to start calling her Saint Verna because she was the closest thing to a saint that he would ever encounter.  I expected that she would shake her head no, but she looked at him, tilted her head a bit and gave him a sweet smile.  I think that she may have appreciated the acknowledgement of a lifetime of doing the right thing and being above all the pettiness that we often encounter in life.  Of course, Ken was just expressing what everyone thinks of her.
 And finally, I considered her a mentor to me in always demonstrating the
RIGHT way to handle various relationships-from my role as a  child, mother,
wife, sister, sister-in-law and friend.  Just watching her was an education
in handling relationships.  I am incredibly lucky that I had Mrs. Verna in
my life.  She gave me Ken and so much more.  My life and everyone's life
that she touched is incredibly richer because of her.

On a side note, I think that I speak for everyone here in thanking MaryAnn, with the help of Teresa and Trudy, for giving such incredible care to Mrs. Verna for these last 7 years or so.  I am sure that it required an incredible amount of stamina and it was done with such love.  You are definitely your mother's daughter!

On behalf of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Alumni Association and Brother Martin High School, I offer our prayers and condolences.  On a personal note, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Kenny Spellman '84
Alumni Director

Cousin Verna was a favorite of my father (Ken Peres) and mother (Antoinette Peres), and therefore a special person for us to visit with. She never hesitated to include us as part of her brood; it was a privileged place to be. Mary Ann, Betty, Janie, Ken, Teresa, Keith and Trudy...our thoughts are with you as you send her to her rest. My mother sends you her love.

Mrs. Verna was a Proverbs 31:10-31 woman. She blessed all who came into contact with her. I was privileged to grow up next door ,and will never forget her kindness. She was like a second mom, and like a grandmother to my kids. She was so good to my Dad, she and Mr. Ken looking in on him daily, and bringing him homecooked meals. Her house was a fun, warm place to be, full of kids, and joy. I know she is in bliss, in her true home, with her loved ones and her Lord.

Sincerest condolences and prayers with love.

Cornelia Witlow

Miss Verna was a lovely, wonderful person.  For many years her and Mr. Ken lived next door to my parents, Alan and Kathleen Laird on Wildair Drive.  I will forever treasure the memories that our family shared with hers.  Miss Verna often gave me a ride to St. Raphael when she had room in her car.  I was particularly grateful to Miss Verna and Mr. Ken for the care that they showed for my Dad as he suffered from emphysema after the death of my Mom.  Miss Verna always made sure that Dad got some of her great home cooking.  My condolences to the family.

Tommy Scanlan

Aunt Verna was a very special person.  I will always remember her beautiful smile and kind words that she always had for everyone.  Even though we lived away and didn't see your family often, I have fond memories of the times we spent together as children.  Love to all.

She was a second Mom and grandmother to us. She will be miss dearly by us.We love to visit her, she had a very cute laugh. We love her so much. She will always be in our prayers. She is happy joining her husband in heaven. We are sad to loose her, but I know now she is where she wants to be. Rest in Peace Love you always, Virginia, Russell and Russell Jr.

OBITUARY

Verna Rita McElrath

July 11, 1921 – September 26, 2012

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services