WHIFFEN, Veronica “Red” (Merner) went to her well-deserved rest on January 22, 2025, one month shy of her 96th birthday. She passed after a day spent in the loving company of family sharing moments of clarity, laughter, and love.
Veronica was the loving wife of the late Maurice and devoted mother of Angela Argento and husband Jim, Maurice and wife Nancy, John and wife Pat, Patricia, her light, and Margaret Gilligan and husband Steven. She was the proud and beloved grandmother of Jamie, Lauren, Brian, Maura, Julianne, Dacey, Carolyne, Jack, Katie and Jennifer and adoring great-grandmother to Noah, Mia, Natalia, Annikah, Luke, Logan, and Norma.
Born in Boston on February 27, 1929, Veronica was the third of eight children of the late Josephine and John Merner and is survived by her beloved sister, Josephine “Sis” Timmons and her husband Ray, and brother, John Merner and his wife Fran, and many nieces and nephews.
Veronica was a force, a hard worker, a strong woman, devoted to those that she loved and an eternal optimist always looking forward to that better day. She cared for her husband through many years of illness and always put her family’s needs before her own. Veronica worked until the age of 81 in a variety of jobs and was most proud of her role as a Boston Police Department Traffic Supervisor in the 60’s and 70’s, keeping watch over a generation of Mission Hill kids at the corner of Saint Alphonsus and Tremont Streets. As a testament to her devotion, even after being injured by a cherry bomb hurled from a passing school bus during the dawn of forced bussing, she returned to her post as soon as she was able, leaving her crutches on the corner, and with her bandaged leg, was out in her “crossing” directing traffic. Veronica was known in the community for her positive energy and upbeat attitude and will be greatly missed.
Funeral from the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St. WEST ROXBURY on Wednesday, January 29th at 10am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Theresa Church at 11am. Visiting hours Tuesday, January 28th from 3-7pm. Relatives and friends invited. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Veronica’s honor. https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude