Health & Fitness
Memorial Bench Dedication at The Women’s Center
Dedication ceremony at The Women's Center for Veronica Shanahan, one of the original members of The Waukesha Noon Lioness Club.
On May 5, 2012, The Waukesha Noon Lioness Club had a dedication ceremony for Veronica Shanahan. A memorial bench engraved with Veronica’s name was placed in front of The Women’s Center, a non-profit human service agency located at 505 N. East Avenue in Waukesha, where victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse find safety, shelter and support. The bench was engraved by Bill Hayes, an instructor at Waukesha County Technical College, in loving memory of Veronica. The purpose of this bench is to provide seating for parents and children of the community waiting for the school bus.
Veronica was one of the original members of The Waukesha Noon Lioness Club, who signed their charter in 1976. Veronica was an active member of St. Williams Catholic Church and together with her husband Jack, owned a business in Waukesha called Collections Incorporated.
“She was a woman you couldn't help but love,” said Lioness Terry Poth. “She went through trials but kept her cheerful elegance and kindness through it all. It is fitting that her memory will be honored at The Women's Center. Maybe her spirit will be there for some of the women who are going through their own trials.”
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The Dedication Ceremony began with a brief introduction in Veronica’s honor. Veronica’s children, Nancy Bong, John Shanahan, Jr., and Mark Shanahan passed out roses to friends, family, and all others who attended the ceremony. Each person shared how they knew Veronica and told a memory about her, and then placed the roses in a vase on either end of the bench.
The Women’s Center, an independent, non-profit human service agency founded in 1977, provides a wide range of free and comprehensive services designed to address the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse. These services include emergency shelter for abused women and their children, transitional living, group and individual counseling, onsite childcare, child abuse prevention programs, legal advocacy and employment counseling. The Center also provides Hispanic outreach, community education programs, information and referral services, and a 24-hour crisis line.
