Sister Veronica Therese Higgins

The Carmelite Sisters of St. Therese announce the death of their Sister Veronica Higgins on January 2, 2025. Sister was in her 49th year of Religious life.

Sister Veronica was born May 9, 1951 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was adopted by Tolton and Alease Higgins. Her education included a Master of Arts Degree plus degree work and advanced studies in the fields of English, education, music, as well as counseling.

SISTER VERONICA’S LEGACY

There is a rhythm to life and the rhythm of life is wedded to the divine rhythm of God’s life in the unique heartbeat of each human person. Sister Veronica found her rhythm and it was a unique rhythm that bound prayer in God’s presence, service of others in her many workplaces, and the wider world into a unified whole as she traveled the heartbeat directing the path laid out for her in her life’s journey. Music she made at every turn of her life with the distinct rhythm of a person with a “servant’s heart” and an “embodied compassion for the marginalized.”

Singing, playing, dancing, writing music – all wove seamlessly in and out of the 49 years of her life serving the people of God in Oklahoma. How did she keep her indelible energy level up over the years? By developing a rhythm of work, prayer, and service that was others-centered. Always happy to greet a visitor, always available to be of help, always one step away from another adventure, Sister Veronica was off and running. Yet, she was others-centered and could drop everything to advocate for what was important to her in the long run. She had a phenomenal quantum of energy to execute her visions of justice, right and wrong, while addressing the needs of the marginalized as her own. 

All of this culminated in her last ministerial undertaking at the Center of Family Love, a residential facility for adults with special needs, in Okarche, OK. Guiding, befriending, teaching, making music, keeping records accurately, these things were bound by prayer and lifted up to God to form a symphony of love. Her life’s music is part of a song that never ends.

A Vigil Service will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 6:00pm at Our Lady’s Cathedral in OKC. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 9:00 am at Our Lady’s Cathedral in OKC with a reception following at Connor Center next to the church. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Therese Endowment fund. Make checks out to the Catholic Foundation. Checks may be sent to Carmelite Sisters Convent, Attn: Sister Barbara Joseph, Superior at 7501 W. Britton Rd. #140, OKC, OK 73132.