Verena Mary Baggaley 1946 – 2024
by her family
Verena was born in August 1946 in St John’s Wood. The family moved to the Kent/Sussex border a year later where she and her brothers, Alan and Ian, could enjoy the countryside and a large garden.
As secondary school approached Verena was sent to St Margarets in Hastings as it was thought that the sea air would be good for her. There she met her best friend, Jenny Coope, whose son Richard was one of Verena’s godchildren.
On leaving school, Venera enrolled at Tante Claire School of Cookery. After cooking directors’ lunches in the city, she went on to set up her own successful catering business. She shared a number of flats with girlfriends before buying a house in Wandsworth.
She married Roger in 1980 and during the early 80s she would look after her nephews, Hugh and Tom. Verena’s nieces Miranda and Juliet describe Verena as ‘a constant’ in their lives – always there in the background but stepping forward whenever they needed her. At various times she provided them with a place to stay or a bed for the night. She gave expert direction around London and employment under her excellent tutoring.
In 1999 Verena and Roger moved to Ewell. She continued her catering business and did lots of work around the Sheen area as well as further afield. Verena was an enormous support to her the family, friends and neighbours throughout her life, just as they were to her, particularly during her illness. She provided practical help, understanding, laughter and, of course, much excellent food.
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Sylvie Collins-Mayo wrote:
“Verena had a deep everyday faith rooted in Christ’s call to help others. She didn’t overthink it but just got on with it. She was always somebody to notice people who were struggling. She laid great store on doing the right thing. She was direct and had a good sense of humour.
She was central to the life of All Saints and she loved the church. The marmalade she cooked and sold to raise funds was greatly prized, and many a lunch and tea kept the church and choir going throughout the year. She made delicious and imaginative lunches for the annual week for Holiday at Home for over a decade and was much loved by all the guests. Her down-to-earth attitude, her capacity to get on with whatever needed doing and her kindness to others offer an example of her Christian faith in action. She will be very much missed.
As Father Alex said,
‘If you have Verena on your side, you’ll be all right.’”