She made her first appearance at the New York City Opera, as Donna Anna, in 1954, and also sang Aida and Tosca with the company.
Her other roles at the Met included Aida, Leonora (La forza del destino), Elisabetta (Don Carlo), Santuzza (Cavalleria rusticana), Tosca and Turandot.
She portrayed Amelia in a new production of Simon Boccanegra opposite Leonard Warren in his final complete opera appearance at the Metropolitan.
During her tenure at the Metropolitan Opera, Verna became well-known and acclaimed for filling in for indisposed divas, often on only a few hours notice.
Verna left the Metropolitan Opera in 1966; her final appearance was in the gala closing night performance at the old house.
That same year, she gave one of her final operatic performances in Turandot with the Seattle Opera, alternating with Birgit Nilsson in the title role.