Verona Denkmann, RSCJ

Sr. Denkmann leaving Oakwood for her new home.

Sr. Denkmann waves goodbye to her friends at Oakwood.

One of the buildings on the grounds of Our Lady of Fatima.

Entrance to Our Lady of Fatima.

Photos: Sandra Schadewald, RSCJ

The next stage of the U.S. Province’s elder care plan began March 8 with the move of Verona Denkmann, RSCJ, from Oakwood Convent of the Sacred Heart, Atherton, California, to Our Lady of Fatima Villa, a skilled care facility in Saratoga, about twenty miles to the southeast.

RSCJ at Oakwood bid farewell to Sister Denkmann, their pioneer in building a new elder care community in California, with a liturgy of blessing and sending at a Mass on March 8. Sister Denkmann will be joined at Our Lady of Fatima by other RSCJ requiring skilled care as beds become available. RSCJ requiring only assisted living will remain at Oakwood.

Our Lady of Fatima is rooted in the Dominican religious tradition.

In preparation for the upcoming moves, the entire province membership blessed RSCJ at Oakwood via teleconference on February 21. Clare Pratt, RSCJ, superior-general of the international Society of the Sacred Heart, and Jane Maltby, RSCJ, a member of her general council, were present for the teleconference.

The cost-saving shift to private health care facilities that are not owned by the U.S. Province began last spring in Albany, N.Y., when RSCJ began moving from Kenwood Convent of the Sacred Heart to Teresian House across town. The community at Teresian House has grown to about twelve RSCJ.

The decision to discontinue health care at Kenwood and skilled care at Oakwood came after months of planning as the U.S. provincial team, like leaders of many other religious orders, confronted the harsh reality of shrinking funds and escalating health care costs.

Pastoral care teams of RSCJ have been established for both Teresian House and Our Lady of Fatima to as part of a carefully thought-out transition plan on both coasts.

Biography

Verona’s  ministerial life began in Lake Forest as a 5th grade teacher from 1942-1947.  She taught Sophomore English and History at Forest Ridge from 1948-1949.  She lived in St. Joseph, MO from 1949-1960 and served as treasurer and surveillante.  In 1960 Verona moved to Clifton in Cincinnati as 7th grade teacher  until 1964 when she moved to Woodlands to continue the same work.  From 1965-1968 she served the Chicago province at the Provincial House.  She lived and served in Omaha from 1968-1970 when she returned to the Provincial House and worked at Barat College.  In 1973 Verona became “Mother Welcome” and a teacher in Austria until 1976 when she returned to the States. Verona moved to New Orleans in 1979, entered a corporate ministry program and served the needs of hospital patients until she moved to Oakwood in 1994.