Sister Rose V. Leisner | Educator, volunteer, 93

Sister Rose Veronica Leisner, 93, a retired educator and prison volunteer, died of heart failure Thursday at Assisi House, the retirement residence for the Sisters of St. Francis in Aston.

Sister Rose Veronica grew up in Brewerytown with 11 siblings and attended St. Ludwig School. She worked for several years at an S.S. Kresge's 5- and 10-cent store in Philadelphia. After entering the Sisters of St. Francis Convent in 1933, she earned a high school diploma and later, while teaching, earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova University.

Sister Rose Veronica taught in Catholic schools in Philadelphia and in Delaware and Montgomery Counties and was principal of St. Alphonsus School in Philadelphia for six years. She also taught for 18 years in Catholic schools in Allentown. From 1975 to 1982 she was director of volunteers and gift shop manager at St. Mary's Hospital in Philadelphia.

For several years she tutored prisoners in reading and math at Holmesburg Prison and later at the House of Correction in Philadelphia. She also volunteered at Northampton County prison while teaching in Allentown in the 1980s. In 1994, she received an award from the House of Correction for her work in prison ministry. She enjoyed watching sports on television.

Sister Rose Veronica is survived by a sister, Caroline Hart, and by nieces and nephews.

A wake will be held at 9:30 a.m. today followed by a viewing at Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Rd., Aston. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Aston.