Sister M. Ann Veronica Helbig, O.P., a Sister of St. Dominic, Amityville, L.I., for 63 years, died on the feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Jan. 1. She was 82.
Born Florence Helbig in South Ozone Park, she recognized her call to religious life as a teenager and completed her high school education at the Dominican Sisters’ Juniorate, then located at Villa Maria, Watermill, L.I. She entered the congregation on Sept. 8, 1951, and received her habit and religious name the following year. On Aug. 7, 1953, she pronounced her vows.
Her early ministry was in elementary education. She taught at Holy Family School, Park Slope; St. Hugh of Lincoln School, Huntington Station, L.I., and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Lindenhurst, L.I. During these years, her father converted to Catholicism and Sister Ann Veronica credited her friend, Sister St. Joseph, with helping to bring about this blessing.
In 1976, she began her service at the Amityville Motherhouse as a driver, taking members of the congregation to doctor’s appointments and to fulfill other tasks.
In 2008, she began her ministry of intercessory prayer in Carlin Hall at the Motherhouse. Two years later, poor health necessitated a move to Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood.
She is survived by her brother Robert.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Albert’s Chapel, Amityville, Jan. 5. Interment followed in the Sisters’ cemetery.
She was my 6th grade teacher at Holy Family School in Park Slope. She was the best teacher I ever had. She taught by singing and I can still remember those tunes. I can still recite all the prepositions. She made me feel loved… smart and special. She taught me the love of learning. I searched for her for years to tell her the powerful effect she had on my life. I never found her. I will tell her today what she meant to me knowing that she will hear me in her new forever home.