Veronica S. Potter

Veronica was a colorful and captivating force of nature. Born on December 2, 1925, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Veronica was the 10th of 12 children born to Mary and Stanley Sebastian. Veronica spent her childhood in Pittsburgh and then joined the Marine Corps on a dare in 1944. She attended boot camp at Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina, and then worked in a clerical capacity at Parris Island, South Carolina. While at Parris Island, Veronica also planned entertainment events and performed in shows for the local servicemen and women to boost morale. She then worked at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia where she remained until her discharge at the end of the war.

After the war, Veronica returned to Pittsburgh, got married, and started a family. While raising her five children (2 boys and 3 girls), Veronica, held a variety of jobs, which included working as a professional dancer and dance instructor, a secretary/bookkeeper, and as a professional artist and art teacher.

Veronica attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she studied Art.  From that point forward, art would become her life’s passion. In addition to regularly exhibiting her artwork, Veronica taught art classes for adults and children out of her home studio for many years, while raising her two youngest kids.  In 1978, she began working as an Art Teacher at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. During her more than 30 years teaching at Harper College, Veronica taught a wide range of art classes including watercolor, oil painting, drawing, print-making, and silk painting techniques. While Veronica officially retired from Harper College in 2009, she continued to teach workshops, attend art classes, and exhibit her work across the Chicago area until very recently. Her last show was at the Garlands of Barrington in April of 2023.

Additionally, Veronica never stopped pursuing her love of dance and performing throughout her life.  Until 2016, Veronica had been involved with a Flamenco Dance group in the Chicago area, with whom she had the opportunity to perform in Seville, Spain - the birthplace of Flamenco. Many times, over the years, Veronica has been featured as a soloist and a model, best known for posing in her brightly colored Flamenco dresses. With everything she did in life, Veronica brought a sparkle and a zest for life. She was known for her vibrant personality and for wearing a colorful flower in her hair every day. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who fiercely loved her kids and grandkids and who forged a close-knit family. Her love, beauty, and talents were immeasurable, as were her courage bravery, and strength. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of her family and her artwork.
Veronica had 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren (in order):

Jimmy Zane (deceased) Jimmy passed away from internal injuries he sustained during a car accident at the age of 13.  

Sandy Witsman is a retired teacher. She has five daughters, Kirsten, Stacy (Grant), Stephanie (deceased) (David), Kate, and Brianna, and six grandchildren, Will, Abby, Alex, Lily, Sadie, and Charlie. Sandy currently lives in Wichita, Kansas.

John Potter is a professional artist and illustrator. He has two sons, Jon and Ben (Nicole), and one grandson, Myles. John currently lives in Montana.

Mary (Dan) Menzel is the founder of MVP Executive Development, a company that provides executive coaching and leadership consulting, and is publishing her first book this year. She has one daughter, Samantha, and two sons, Connor and Christopher.  Mary currently lives in New York.

Tricia (Jim) Davis is a lawyer and a mother of four daughters, Paige, Grace, Claire, and Brooke. She currently lives in Barrington, Illinois.

Connie Hoge (deceased) was a professional audio engineer, a master gardener, and lived in Westminster, Maryland with her husband, John Hoge (deceased), and son, William (step-daughter).

Robert E. Potter III is a professional photographer and educator living in Chicago, Illinois (step-son).

In lieu of flowers please donate to the USO in Veronica’s name.  Veronica used to perform with the USO during World War II and was a strong supporter of the veterans, especially female veterans. The USO works to support the military and veterans with a variety of programs and services. They help with everything from entertainment for our troops and helping soldiers stay connected with their families to assisting veterans with transitioning back into their communities.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 9:30 AM until the funeral mass at 11 AM at Saint Anne Catholic Community, 120 Ela St. (Corner of Franklin and Ela Sts.), Barrington, IL 60010. Interment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Barrington.

Please click the link to join us virtually for Veronica's funeral mass: https://vimeo.com/event/4172054/115ffaf909