Ms. Veronica Norma Toney

The Well-Lived, Well-Loved and Well-Remembered Life of Veronica N. Toney

Veronica Norma Toney was born on October 1, 1948 on the isle of Aruba, NA, to parents Raymond Alexander Toney and Alice Toney and later migrated with her family to the beautiful island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, settling in Georgetown where she was raised. Veronica was the middle child of five siblings - Raymond (deceased), Helena (deceased), Ferdinand and the youngest, Alicene.
While in St. Vincent, Veronica attended Georgetown Primary School, then Intermediate High School, before becoming a teacher herself, at Langley Park in Georgetown. She later attended St. Vincent & the Grenadines School of Nursing, graduating in the class of 1972, did Midwifery for one year and then journeyed to the United States in December of 1973. Veronica’s new life began in Brooklyn, New York where she lived for 41 years before moving to North Brunswick, NJ to join her daughter Khalila in 2014. Her illustrious career in Nursing began as a Critical Care Nurse at Community Hospital in Brooklyn. She moved on to become the Head Nurse of the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center where she worked for 38 years until retiring in 2013. She also worked part time as a Charge Nurse at Crown Nursing Home for a few years throughout this time.
While working and building a better life in the United States, Veronica had two amazing children with her then longtime love, Kelroy Arthur who migrated from SVG to the United States in 1973 and landed in Brooklyn, NY where they reunited. Their daughter Khalila was born in 1978 and son Vashdev was born in 1983. If you knew Veronica well, you know that her most prized possessions were her beloved children both of whom she adored limitlessly and would do anything for them unabashedly. She worked extremely hard to provide the best that she could afford, ensuring their needs were always met and desires fulfilled with very few but practical limitations. She taught them the value of providing for themselves. She raised her children in a happy, healthy, and stable home and exhibited sincere and unwavering love until her very last breath.
Veronica was not just an extraordinary and devoted mom but was also incredibly skilled and knowledgeable in her Nursing profession. While raising her two children, she received her Bachelor’s degree at Medgar Evers College and a Master’s Degree from Lehman University. She was also one of the founders of the St. Vincent & the Grenadines Nurses Association, allowing her to combine the love for her career and her homeland and manifest it for the betterment and enrichment of those less fortunate.
Veronica lived a relatively full life though she left us unexpectedly. She always carved out time to enjoy what she deemed to be most fulfilling. She enjoyed traveling with friends and family and was truly an avid sports fan. She watched the full gamut of games namely Tennis, Football, Baseball and Basketball, with the latter two being her favorites. She knew her player stats and could challenge anyone that tested her knowledge. Her most adored sports icons were Derek Jeter, Lebron James and her favorite of all the late, great Kobe Bryant. She was a shopping enthusiast and a cooking and baking aficionado – well known for her cakes and homemade bread. Veronica was a consistent source of support, advice, shelter and love for family, friends, her children’s friends and friends of friends! Her passion for helping others was boundless and that is the true beauty of who she was. An angel in human form describes her best as she was a blessing to many in a magnitude of ways and though her heart was huge, her modesty was what made her so outstanding.
Veronica was very steeped in her faith and was a longtime member of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn until moving to New Jersey and becoming a faithful parishioner at Christ Church in New Brunswick.
Veronica was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer in 2016 while living with her daughter who became her biggest advocate along with her son and a widespread of family, friends and loved ones from whom she received a ton of love and support. She fought a very arduous 4-year battle at the well-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering, where she received top-notch care at the hands of some of the nation’s best. However, unfortunately as the cycle of life must come full circle, she succumbed to her illness on May 26, 2020, at her home in North Brunswick, NJ surrounded by her children and a few members of her family.
Veronica is survived by her two children Khalila and Vashdev Arthur, their father Kelroy Arthur, remaining siblings, Alicene and Ferdinand Toney, brother – in – law Fixroyed Liverpool, nieces Tamara Toney, Tamisha Lewis, Iasha Lewis, Damali Collins, Rushmali Hadley, Ferdessa Alvis and Vanmila Alvis, nephews Kevin Toney, Gidal Toney, Gregory Liverpool, Andre Liverpool, Colin Liverpool, Kurt Liverpool and Zean King along with great- nieces and nephews, godchildren, a host of family, friends and loved ones – and her renowned rubber plant that she loved almost as much as her children. It was given to her by her son 31 years ago and is still thriving in her home today. Veronica will be missed incessantly. We love her dearly. May she sleep in heavenly peace.