Veronica Geister

Veronica Geister, age 98, died peacefully on October 13, 2025 at Clarehouse in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Veronica a/k/a Vernie (from her childhood in Cleveland), a/k/a Ronnie (from high school), a/k/a Vee (during nursing school in Minnesota) was born on September 19, 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio to John and Anna Mihelich. She was an identical twin of her sister Rosemarie. After graduating from Notre Dame Academy, Veronica started her college education at the College of St. Teresa in Minnesota before obtaining a diploma from Saint Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in 1950, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Case-Western Reserve University in 1952. In 1986 she obtained a Master of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma Graduate Program in Nursing. On August 21, 1954 Veronica married the love of her life Charles Geister Jr. They met in Cleveland in 1953 while he was attending the Ohio College of Podiatry. What a pair: a Catholic democrat from Ohio and a protestant republican from Oklahoma! The happy couple moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Oklahoma in 1956. After a short stint in Oklahoma City, they moved to Tulsa in April 1957. In Tulsa, Veronica continued a distinguished career in nursing that included teaching and clinical supervision at Hillcrest Medical Center School of Nursing (1957-1960) and nursing services and administration with Saint Francis Hospital (1960-1989). Among other positions at Saint Francis, she served as Director of Nursing Service (1964-1970), Staff Nurse (1970-1974), and Director of Nursing Support Services (1986-1989). Nursing meant so much to her. But nothing meant more to her than her husband Charlie. They enjoyed bridge, The Young Men's Club, their dear friends affectionately named The Dirty Dozen, hosting parties, traveling near and far (many places in the USA, Mexico, Bahamas, Italy, Greece, Hong Kong, and China, just to name some of them), and their three sons and grandchildren. Upon retirement in 1989, she volunteered at Neighbor for Neighbor and the Laureate Psychiatric Hospital. After her husband Charlie passed in 2003, Veronica stayed active, spending time and traveling with her family, playing bridge, continuing to volunteer at Laureate, beginning many years of volunteer work with the Saint Francis Archives Group (she loved her Archives compadres), working crosswords, reading, and watching football, and driving much longer than she should have! A few more things about her. Her sister Rosemarie was the "good twin"; Vernie was the "naughty twin." She wanted to be a lawyer; her father talked her out of it. She loved the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland Browns, and the O.U. Football Sooners. She loved the Farm in Leroy, Ohio. The best gift Santa Claus ever brought was a pedal operated fire engine. In 2014, she belonged to just six bridge clubs. She loved stage plays and performances (Wayne Newton was her favorite performer). Her favorite song was "My Way." She loved to write poems and was very good at it. Her favorite poem (other than one of her own) was "The House With Nobody In It" by Joyce Kilmer. She deeply loved and had the best relationship with both sides of her family. She lived at the house on 49th Street in Tulsa until she was well into the age of 97; she then moved to the Stonehaven Assisted Living Center for the last months of her life. A few of her life views: (1) Age is a case of mind over matter - if you don't mind it doesn't matter. (2) The KISS principle. (3) The "best" is the enemy of the "good". (4) Don't ASSUME." (5) Judge not lest you be judged. Her family and friends will remember her as loving and caring, with a kind word for anyone and everyone. Veronica is survived by her sons Charlie and Brian, Daughters-In-Law Gerry and Alyson, Grandchildren Jamie Cooper, Michael Geister, Bennett Geister, Brandon Geister, and Nick Geister, and numerous Great Grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents John and Anna Mihelich, her twin sister Rosemarie Hogan, her stepmother Nettie, her husband Charlie, her son Kevin, and numerous other family and friends. A visitation will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00pm, followed by a Rosary at 7:00pm, both at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel (3612 East 91st Street South). A funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 10:00am at the Catholic Church of the Resurrection (4804 S. Fulton Ave.). A reception will follow at the same location. Interment at Calvary Cemetery to follow. Flowers may be sent to Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel. Memorial donations may be made to Laureate Psychiatric Hospital, Catholic Church of the Resurrection, or Clarehouse

Veronica Geister

September 19, 1927 - October 13, 2025