Obituary of Veronica F. Harenchar

Veronica Frederick Harenchar

June 1, 1926 – March 4, 2025

Veronica “Vicki” Harenchar passed away peacefully on Tuesday March 4, 2025 at the Lakewood Community in Richmond, VA at the age of 98. Vicki was an extremely special person, sharing her unfailing love with her immediate family and extended family. Vicki was predeceased by her husband Michael J. Harenchar to whom she was married for 68 years and first met as a sophomore in high school in Mt. Pleasant, PA. Vicki was very proud of her only child, son James J. Harenchar (wife Stephanie Karfias) and her two grandchildren Michael “Jack” and Kate Harenchar of Richmond, VA. She is also survived by her sister Martha F. Fox, Youngstown, OH.

Vicki was an extremely engaging, joyous and effervescent person. She had numerous passions: gardening, golf, puzzles, piano, knitting and her grandchildren’s activities. She could be found at little league baseball games, field hockey games, dance and piano recitals. Never one to miss a party, she loved entertaining guests at her home on Collinwood Drive in Richmond or attending years of family reunions near her ancestral home in Western Pennsylvania.

Vicki was born June 1, 1926 in Mt. Pleasant, PA to Charles and Martha Frederick. She was one of seven children: 5 sisters and 1 brother. She graduated from Ramsay High School in May, 1944. Shortly thereafter she went to work with Robertshaw Controls in New Stanton, PA as a sales secretary, where she worked for over 20 years. Vicki was never shy about telling people that she got her husband Mike his first job, recommending him to her boss for an entry level sales position. Mike would go on to work with Robertshaw Controls for 45 years, thanks to that referral from his wife. Vicki moved numerous times as Mike’s career advanced and they lived in Springfield, OH, St. Louis, MO, Kankakee, IL, Chattanooga, TN, New Stanton, PA and a final move to Richmond, VA in 1977. She enjoyed the opportunity to meet new friends, decorate new homes and get involved in various activities.

In 1984 after her son went off to college, she decided to go back to work as an Administrative Assistant during the Virginia legislative session, working with several delegates over her four years with the legislature. She then focused her time on golf, enjoying the competition and camaraderie with the 9-hole ladies group at Hermitage Country Club and furthered her love of gardening, meeting monthly with the Canterbury Garden Club.

Vicki was a strong faith-filled person. Upon moving to Richmond, she joined St. Bridget Catholic Church and then moved to St Mary’s Catholic Church in 1984, closer to her home. She was also an ardent supporter of education, full of pride with her grandchildren’s success as students in the Leadership Center at Douglas Freeman High School then The University of Notre Dame and St. Gertrude High School and the University of South Carolina School of Nursing respectively.

The Harenchar family would like to extend their profound gratitude to the staff and caregivers at Lakewood, who always treated Vicki with the utmost respect and love.

A visitation will be held on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the hour of her Blessing Service at 1:00 p.m. at the Galone – Caruso Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, PA, followed by her Funeral Mass at 1:30 p.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Mt. Pleasant, PA.  Interment will be in Visitation Parish Cemetery.  To leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.galone-carusofuneralhome.com