Published in the February 10, 2017 edition
MEDFORD — Veronica C. Vaughn, 94, a 70-year resident of Medford, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 1, at Bear Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Born on October 22, 1922 in Revere, she was the third child of the late Frederick and Emily (King) Bertelsen.
Veronica, or “Ronnie,” was a beloved sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
She spent her early childhood growing up on a farm in Burlington. In the 1930’s, she moved to Somerville with her siblings after tragedy struck, leaving them orphans. On February 1,1947, she married her much loved husband, Louis D. Vaughn of Medford, who passed away in 2006. She resided in the same house on McCormack Avenue in north Medford for 70 years. She worked at the Fulton and Davenport elementary schools for over 30 years as a lunch mother and teacher’s aide, bringing warmth, kindness, and patience to all her students.
Ronnie was truly dedicated to the care and support of her young students, many of whom remembered her influence many years later. Naturally, Ronnie was a gentle, fun, and compassionate grandmother and great-grandmother. She cherished every moment with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, teaching them how to knit, bake, decorate cakes, and always providing an attentive and encouraging ear.
Ronnie was a former member of the Community Baptist Church of Medford before attending Grace Chapel in Lexington/Wilmington. She was a woman of remarkable faith, whose strength in God sustained her. She led by example, lifting her family, friends, and strangers alike up in prayer daily. She will be dearly missed by all, but her impact as a sensitive, strong matriarch will continue as her legacy.
She is survived by her daughters Judith Pierce and husband Doug of Medford, Jean Siegal and husband Mark of York Beach Maine; her five grandchildren Bonnie Pierce and husband Nam Pham of Washington, DC, Jonathan Siegal and wife Elizabeth of Hamilton, Mindy Pierce and wife Lauren Melanson of Methuen, Jessica O’Connell and husband Michael of Brentwood, NH, Jenelle Hayward and husband Jonathan of Medford; her great-grandchildren Olivia, Abigail, Anabelle, William, Tyler, Lila, Ava and Maslow, and her sisters May Harwood of Burlington and Ellen Winship of St. Petersburg, FL.
In addition to her husband Louis, she was predeceased by her brother Bernard Bertelsen and sister, Ida Harwood.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor of Veronica’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Thursday, February 9 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and for her funeral service celebrated at the Wilmington Campus of Grace Chapel, 128 West St., Wilmington on Friday at 10 a.m. Interment in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.
Gifts in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Ave., Ste 6, Waltham, MA 02451 or to Grace Chapel, 3 Militia Dr., Lexington, MA 02421.
For directions or online tribute visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com
