Benedictine Sister Andrea Verchuck, who served for many years in the Diocese of Richmond, passed away Jan. 6 at the St. Benedict Monastery in Bristow at the age of 95. A funeral Mass will be offered at St. Benedict Monastery Jan. 17.
Sister Andrea was born Josephine Veronica Verchuck on May 26, 1929, in Crabtree, Pennsylvania, the seventh of eight children born to Paul and Justyna Verchuck. She entered the Benedictine monastery in Bristow at the age of 15.
Sister Andrea worked for many years in education, including as a teacher at St. Benedict School, Richmond (1951-1956); as principal of the former St. Rose of Lima School, Hampton (1962-1964); as principal of the former Sacred Heart School, Richmond (1964-1968); and as a teacher and guidance counselor at St. Gertrude High School, Richmond (1968-1975). She also served at St. Gertrude in 2005 in Mission Effectiveness.
Sister Andrea served her community as prioress from 1979-1987 and 1999-2003. She was instrumental in raising funds for the new Benedictine monastery in Bristow, which opened in 2022. One of her final fundraising projects was the prayer garden that will be installed on the site of the former monastery.