Veronica Ann (Marshall) Ladendecker
May 20, 1934 – September 21, 2025
West Springfield, Massachusetts

Veronica Ladendecker, 91, of West Springfield, passed away peacefully on September 21 — the first day of fall — after a long and fulfilling life filled with love, family, and travel.

Born Veronica Ann Marshall in May 1934 to Louis and Alice Marshall of East Falmouth, Massachusetts, she excelled in her studies and went on to attend St. Elizabeth's Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1954 with a Nursing Degree. She quickly advanced in her career, becoming a Surgical Nurse in the hospital's Cancer Research Department, where she found great joy in both her work and the camaraderie of her colleagues.

In 1956, Veronica met Richard Lawrence Ladendecker, an Air Force airman stationed at Truro Radar Station. They married in 1957 at St. Anthony's Church in East Falmouth. Together, they raised three children: Cheryl Helen (1958), Richard Lawrence II (1959), and Elizabeth Louise (1967). The first two were born in Wareham, Massachusetts, and Elizabeth was born in California.

As her husband's Air Force career advanced—eventually leading him to command the NATO 40th Rescue and Recovery Squadron—Veronica became the steadfast anchor of the family through numerous relocations, moving eight times before finally settling in West Springfield in 1972. Her adaptability and spirit shone during their time in Novato, California, Seville, Spain, Ramstein, Germany, and Hamilton Township, Bermuda, where she made lifelong friends and cherished countless memories.

Veronica was a driven and determined woman who dedicated herself to ensuring her family's happiness, safety, and education. She instilled in her children the importance of independence and learning—values reflected in their accomplishments: Richard Sr. earned a BA, MBA, and CPA; Cheryl, Elizabeth, and Richard II all earned Bachelor's degrees, with Richard II also obtaining his MBA. Veronica often reflected in her later years that she had achieved everything she ever wanted for herself, her family, and her friends—a true testament to an extraordinary woman.

Following Richard's passing in 2015, Veronica spent the next decade living independently, as she had wished. Her son visited and spoke with her nearly every day, sharing laughter, memories, and lively discussions about life and politics. True to her nature, she remained strong, sharp, and self-reliant until the very end—fulfilling her wish to spend her final years in her own home.

Veronica will be remembered as a wonderful, caring, and worldly woman—always ready with a smile, a kind word, or a helping hand. She was deeply loved by her family and all who knew her.

She was, quite simply, amazing.  A committal service will be held in the chapel of the Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery on Friday October 17, 2025 at 2:00PM.  The West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home is handling all arrangements.