Veronica's Veil

I've posted a little about my family, I think. Here's a story that resurfaced:
My mother said she was born with a Veronica's veil, some type of jelly like covering on her face. Superstition and old wives tales suggested that it kept the bearer from dying from water or fire. My mom was born in 1942, and some uncle was going off to war. Apparently they wrapped that thing up and gave it to him for protection. Don't know what happened to him.
I talked to my aunt yesterday, she told me my mother was born with the vernix still covering her face. That was her "Veronica's veil". My mother's family was Catholic, so I guess that carried a lot of weight, what with the Pope going to see it and all.
Well, I guess it worked, sorta. She did die from fire and water- she died from pneumonia caused by the tumor blocking her air passages. Too bad that thing didn't protect her from smoking.