Sunday, August 29, 2021
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So very sad at the loss of Verna, a valued teaching colleague and friend! I will miss her dearly! I started teaching at Mistahi Sipiy School over 20 years ago and Verna was my Nursery EA! Wow! Did I luck out!! We worked closely together for a few years until she decided to pursue her own teaching career. Wonderful memories! So thankful that when she graduated with her Bachelor of Education, she returned to our school as a teacher! The Grade One kids loved her! My classroom was next door to hers and I often heard the music playing from smart board activities! I could walk in her room anytime only to see the children engaged in fun, interesting school work! Verna and I chatted regularly! She was always so helpful to me! She was easy going, kind, generous, humble and contributed so much to all of the school activities. Over the years, we worked on many committees together! I always valued her solid, quiet, knowledgeable presence! She had amazing teaching skills and often shared her students’ accomplishments with me. She had a passion for teaching her students how to read! She had a very structured classroom where students actively participated in learning! She always worked hard and loved her students! Verna had a positive attitude and I can honestly say that I never heard her complain! Even when her health was compromised or when she lost very close family members she stood tall! She worked hard to help our students, her nieces and nephews and other family members. On many occasions after school, she would have her nieces and nephews visiting her classroom. It was evident that she was a loving, caring, supportive and very much loved Auntie! She often shared about their weekend activities, movies she watched with them or places they went. Many times I would see her with a car full of her treasured nieces and nephews! She stood up for them at school and always had their back!
I will miss Verna! The students and staff will dearly miss Verna! She impacted the lives of many students in a positive way! I know she touched my life in many ways and I’m so grateful for knowing her, working with her and being her classroom neighbour for so many years!
Prayers and love to all the students she ever taught and their families. Special prayers to all of her family members including all of her nieces and nephews!
A quote that suits Verna is:
“To teach is to touch lives forever”. That’s exactly what she did!!
Love and my sincere sympathy,
Brenda Collins
