Obituary: Veronica J. Harrigan, 94, formerly of Stratford

STRATFORD, CT - (From Cody White Funeral Home) Veronica J. Harrigan, 94, formerly of Stratford, beloved wife of the late Milton “Harry” Harrigan, Sr., passed away peacefully on February 5, 2021.

Born on May 16, 1926 in Scranton, PA, she was the daughter of the late George and Mary (Kuhar) Mihelik.

Veronica “Vern” was a graduate of Stratford High School. During WWII, She trained to be a nurse’s aide in Milford to help in any way she could in the war effort.

She then worked at Singers in Bridgeport where she met her future husband. After marrying, Vern worked for a short period of time at AVCO Lycoming in Stratford, now Textron.

She lived in Lordship for over 50 years. Vern was an avid walker, averaging 4-5 miles per day, walking throughout the Lordship area and along Long Beach, Short Beach, and Russian Beach.

Her husband Harry could seldom keep up with her. Vern loved classical music, polka music, and dancing to polka songs. She was a loving, attentive, and supportive mother, wife, grandmother, and great grandmother. Family meant everything to her. She loved life and all it had to offer her.

Vern spent her final years at the Newtown Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Sandy Hook. She was involved in many of the activities offered there, especially singing and dancing.

Many of the staff members, nurses, and aides got to know her very well and were very familiar with her playful antics.

Watching Vern dance and sing was always a treat for everybody. And if the other residents weren’t participating, she was quick to encourage them to join in the fun. She had a great sense of humor and it wasn’t unusual while having a conversation with her that if you said, “Who knows….”she would quickly reply, “The Shadow knows”.

Hats-off and a very special thank you to the administrative, nursing, and hospice staffs at Newtown Rehab. All of them knew Vern very well and were happy to interact with her on a regular basis. The truth is that you couldn’t help but interact with Vern, she was just that kind of person.

Veronica is survived by her children, Milton (Lisa) Harrigan and Karen (Rory) Clark; her grandchildren, Kathleen (Robert) Ingellis, Patrick Harrigan, Brittany (Christopher) Jackson, Jessica (Lance) Churchill, and Crystal Davies, sister-in-law Jean Mihelik, numerous nieces and nephews; and her great-grandchildren, Jackson and Landon Churchill, and Marvin Ingellis.

In addition to her husband, Veronica was predeceased by her seven siblings; five sisters – Elizabeth Giacomazzi, Ethel Tomas, Mary Sepelak, Christina Kochis, and Cecilia Gannon, and two brothers – Joseph Mihelik and George Mihelik; and by her grandson, Ryan Clark.

Due to current restrictions, services will be held at a later date.