Sister Mary Virginia Sturlich, 96, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died May 9 at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 65th year of religious life. She was a native of Kansas City, Kan.
Sister Virginia was born in Kansas City, Kan., after her parents, the late Joseph and Mary Sturlich, immigrated from Austria. Sister Virginia was an Ursuline Sister of Paola before the merger of that community with Mount Saint Joseph in 2008, and ministered to the Paola community for 60 years. She enjoyed writing letters and telling jokes.
She served as infirmarian and cared for the ill and the elderly at the Ursuline Academy/Motherhouse in Paola from 1953-71, where she was often a second mother for the Academy girls. From 1971-78, she ministered in child care at the Lakemary Center, serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. From 1978 until moving to Maple Mount in 2009, Sister Virginia served in various ways at the convent, including laundry and housekeeping.
Survivors include a sister, Mary Sullivan of Overland Park, Kan., a brother-in-law, Victor Ubert, Kansas City, Kan., a niece and nephews and the members of her religious community.
The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 14 at Mount Saint Joseph, where visitation will begin Sunday at 4 p.m., with a wake service following at 6:30 p.m.
Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, Owensboro, is in charge of arrangements.
Gifts in memory of Sister Virginia may take the form of donations to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.
(Wake Reflection on page 2)
Comments
My Aunt Sister Virginia was a sweet, loving lady. She lived a good life, seen a lot over the years. She is now with her parents, my grandfather, Joseph and grandmother, Mary and her two sisters who preceded her, my mother Ann and my aunt, Agnes. She has left here a lot of great memories.
Rich
Sister Virginia, say hi t
Look at that beautiful smile, that is one of the things I remember. I’m just sorry that Sister will not be brought back to Paola for burial.
What a wonderful mark Sister has left on this earth. I was privileged to know Sister Virginia at Ursuline Academy. She kept us going with her humor and love.
Kudos to Sister Sharon Sullivan for capturing the spirit and humor of Sister Virginia in her writing. Yes, she was all that and more. I’m glad the mischief was included. My mother made a retreat at Ursuline one summer and came home with amusing stories of a woman she met.I later learned it was Sister Virginia because she told me many times how astounded she was that the mother of eight could get away to make a retreat. And she had expressed that to my motheras only she could. And yet look at her, mothering so many over the years. She was indeed a caring person who said yes to serving the Lord in many ways ……and a character! I do love Sister Virginia for being herself.
I had the privilege of being Sr. Virginia AKA Sr “Sunshine’s” caregiver for a few years before they all left Paola. Let me tell you she lived up to her reputation of being a wonderful, kind, always telling you just how it was woman. I came to love her very much, and can’t begin to tell you how much I miss her….. still even now. Sr Sunshine, I hope you know how much you are missed, and how so many people still love
you.