Verona Alice Routt (Vavrek)

Verona Alice Routt (Vavrek) October 12, 1940 – October 7, 2024, of Pickerington, Ohio was embraced in the arms of Jesus October 7, 2024, at 6:15 PM just five days ahead of her 84th birthday.

Preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Arthur Ray Routt, two daughter’s Vickie Lynn Newman and Jackie Leigh Sunderland, great-granddaughter Lacy Pickel, parent’s Joseph and Garnet Vavrek, as well as her many fur babies, such as her miniature Schnauzers, Sabrina Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and most recently little Heidi and Sadie.

Verona was survived by her grandchildren; A.J. Newman, Alicea McLain (Sunderland), Vanessa Ross (Newman), and B.J. Newman, great-grandchildren; Cody Newman, Anthony Pickel, James Snyder, Dylan Newman, Jaiden Snyder, Kamrin Newman, Jackson Ross, Jarrett Ross, and Jace Ross and great-great grandchildren; Keldyn Newman, Victor Newman, Kaizen King, with another great-great grandson due to be born January 2025. As well as her brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Susan Vavrek.

Graduating High School in Lancaster, Ohio Verona would later go on to become a cosmetologist and hairdresser working in her mothers-in-law Virgina Routt’s beauty salon, Virginia May’s in Lancaster Ohio. As years would go by, she would later endeavor to work at Lucent Technology, formerly known as Western Electric. Verona held many supervisory roles and worked in various fields with technology. Just before entering her Golden years, she would spend time working at Victoria’s Secret and then later work at Wal-Mart where she would retire from as well as gain a lifelong best friend in a co-worker of many years “Barb” and a few other ladies that would all refer to themselves as the “lunch bunch” whom she would always enjoy time together with after
retirement on lunch dates. As the selfless individual she was, Verona dedicated many years of her life as a caregiver.

Beginning with caring for her husband after a diagnosis with meningioma brain tumors that would ultimately take his life after an 11-year battle between surgeries, radiation, etc. caring for her mother in her final months as she battled lung cancer and caring for her mother-in-law as she navigated her senior years and inability to live alone. Verona was truly the definition of a “selfless individual”.

Verona was called “Mimi” by many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and will be remembered by many as “Mimi”. In her final years here earthside “Mimi” would battle her mind against Dementia and her “button nose” would go to battle for “Mimi” to be certain she received proper and dignified care during her final years. Verona had in the days prior to her entering the gates of Heaven had just marked one year of living with her Granddaughter, Vanessa or as she had always referred to her as, “button nose”.

There will be a private family memorial service. Arrangements were handled by the COTNER FUNERAL HOME, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Inurnment to be held at a later time and date at Violet
Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks the following. Call your elderly parents, grandparents, and neighbors. Check on them and see how they are. Ask if they need anything. Volunteer to take care of things you see need done, even when they say there is nothing, they need from you. Help make and navigate important phone calls and appointments. Find something, and just do it, but for the love of God just go visit and check on them! In addition if you know someone who has dedicated their life to being a caregiver to a loved one. Check on them too.

Vanessa holds a deep gratitude and extends a heartfelt appreciation to and for the staff at Capital City Hospice in their help in caring for her “Mimi” during January 2023 – October 2024. Most especially Mimi’s nurse Heidi. On a final note. If you work in healthcare and are incapable of being kindhearted, understanding, gentle, patient and compassionate with your patients and residents, most especially our elderly. GET OUT of the healthcare field now, please. Even in Dementia Verona never stopped telling her granddaughter and caregiver Vanessa that she “loved” her. Vanessa’s says below after her final act of love for Mimi in a year long journey of living with and navigating Dementia: “If love alone could have healed you, you would have lived forever.”

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