On January 2, 2025, we said goodbye to one of our most faithful servant leaders at the   Center of Family Love. Sister Veronica Higgins will be truly missed by so many. She was a spiritual guide for all of us and the mother to all her precious children here at CFL. Her funeral was standing room only at Our Lady’s Cathedral on January 11^th, 2025, a testament to her impact on the state and the Catholic community.

Sister was mission driven and was proud of “her children”, the residents at the Center of Family Love. To continue her legacy of serving those she was most passionate about and who are most vulnerable, CFL has created a legacy giving opportunity for those who would like to give in memory of Sister Veronica Higgins. CFL is currently planning a celebration day on campus to honor Sister Veronica Higgins, with a date to be announced in the next few weeks. All donations will go directly to “her children”, the residents of CFL.

Sister was present at the CFL 1981 groundbreaking ceremony when the Center of Family Love opened, providing quality lifetime care to adults with intellectual disabilities. Starting her full-time work at CFL in 2016, many residents would wait by the window every morning before her arrival just to greet her and give her that first morning hug. She always said that she loved finishing her career at CFL because God had called her to serve the poor, the needy and the orphans.

For nine years she gave her life to the Center of Family Love! She began working as the case manager for 16 of our residents in Salatka Hall, but it did not take her long before she knew every one of our residents and began working individually with them. She became the spiritual guide to almost everyone at the Center of Family Love. She taught our residents how to participate in Mass, even though 90% of them were not Catholic. She sang and played the guitar, and the residents fell in love with the music and loved to go to Mass. She also sent daily devotions by email to the staff every day. She motivated us all to become a “light” in this world, for Christ!

She was a strong advocate for our residents. She worked hard trying to get more people to understand the needs at the Center of Family Love. She would do interviews, write articles, and speak to lawmakers about legislation that would help with the funding for the most marginalized. She also was a big part of our award-winning documentary, People Like Us.

We know when our Lord met her in heaven His words were… “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

Sister, you will always live in our hearts and will never be forgotten. Our hearts are broken, and we will miss you Sister!

In Humble Gratitude,