Kay D. Veronda, age 88, of Coal City, IL passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026 at Morris Hospital.

She was born on May 23, 1937 in Aurora, IL. She grew up in the towns of Kewanee, Pontiac, and Morris before settling in Coal City. She graduated from Coal City High School Class of 1955. Kay married Andrew J. “Bugs” Veronda Jr. on October 12, 1957 and they were married for 47 years until the time of Bugs’ passing in 2004. First and foremost, Kay was a great homemaker, cooking delicious dishes for her family and friends. She was employed off and on over the years at different places and many numerous restaurants. She worked as a waitress at several local establishments, including the Gay 90’s, The Good Table, The Manor Marketplace, Abe’s, and The Backyard Pub. She also worked for a time at Cardinal Transport and at Grundy County Farm Bureau where she finally retired from.

Kay’s retired years were spent babysitting her five grandchildren, who fondly called her Grandma V or Gam-Gam. She enjoyed going to many of their games, performances or activities. She was an avid Coaler fan and would attend as many games as she could. She was also an avid Chicago Cubs fan, having gone to many games over the years with the Eileen Villager’s bus trips. Later in life, she took up the sport of golf with a few of her friends, and would hit the links in Essex or Dwight. Kay also loved the sport of Professional Bull Riding, if you can believe that, and she followed her favorite riders and bulls over the years and would never miss it on TV. She could tell you statistics, along with rider injuries and how mean a bull was. She also loved playing games, whether it be cards, scrabble, UNO or dominoes. Her card-playing friends met every Thursday at her house at 9:00 am to play the card game Peck all day and munch on the smorgasbord they made. And, all her family knew not to call her between 3:30 -4:00pm because she was watching/solving Jeopardy. She was also a collector of many elephants and tea pots, and was very proud of her sister’, children’s and grandchildren’s artwork that they had made over the years and put them on display for all to see. And of course if you knew Kay, she was famous for the assortment of soups she would make at home and when she worked at the Backyard Pub. She always said “No one goes home hungry at my house! “ We can still see her working hard in the kitchen in her signature Mumus and asking the grandkids what kind of “special snack” that they wanted.

Kay is survived by her children, Scott (Kathy) Veronda, Lynne (Walt) Mahaffay, and Gail (John) Watson; her five grandchildren, David (Holly) Veronda, Michael (Sarah) Veronda, Kayla (Cody) Mahaffay-Musson, Kellee (Paul) Phillips, and Kyle Watson, and six great-grandchildren, Katherine, Kaylee and Jake Veronda, Ainsleee and Ada Musson, and Nash Phillips; her sister, Judy Darin; her niece, LeAnne (Mike) Tjelle; her nephew, Lon Kunz, and great-nephew, Ryan Kunz. She is also survived by her special card-playing friends, Marilyn Hook, Carolyn Longest, Darlene “Peanut” Palmer , Bev Luck, Jeanie Anselmo, Sharon Marizza and Cathy Smith; also her dear neighbors, Betty Manietta, Mark and Jean Lissy, Greg and Lynn, and special friend, Paula Payne.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bugs Veronda; her daughter, Shelly Veronda; her granddaughter, Mary Katherine Veronda; her sister, Sandy Paul, and her parents, Eunice and Rip Stewart.

We would also like to thank the staff at Heritage Woods of Dwight and Serenity Estates, especially her adopted granddaughter (“G.D.”), Alissa Tadey and the rest of the ladies that doted on our Mom in her final months. She will always be remembered for her sweet personality, quick wit, and love of classic rock and pop music from the 40’s, through the 80’s (especially Elvis) , her red Geranium pots in her front yard, her love of elephants , feeding the songbirds, and for hosting all the family holiday parties.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Coal City Food Pantry, Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago or the Coal City Athletic Booster’s in Kay’s name would be appreciated.

Cremation rites will be accorded.

A “Celebration of Life” for Kay will be held later in the spring. More information will become available on Ferrari Funeral Service’s website at that time.

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.ferrarifuneral.com

Ferrari Funeral Services of Coal City are entrusted with arrangements.