Virginia Bernice STUDEBAKER

STUDEBAKER, BRAY, REILAND, QUIGLEY, KUPER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/19/2016 at 16:55:55

July 22, 1918 ----- July 16, 2016

BELMOND — Virginia “Jenny” B. Studebaker, 97, of Belmond, IA, died Saturday, July 16, 2016, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond, Belmond, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, 10:30 a.m. at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Belmond, IA. Father Jerry Blake will be officiating. Burial will be in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, near Belmond. Visitation will be on Tuesday at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church from 5 to 7 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to the mass at church Wednesday. There will be a Catholic Daughters of America Rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a Parish Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the visitation’s conclusion. The family suggests those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Virginia’s name consider the Belmond Hospital Foundation, St. Francis Catholic Church, to the family or the donor’s choice.

Virginia Bernice Studebaker, the daughter of Ira J. and Mary (Bray) Studebaker was born July 22, 1918 on her parents’ farm south of Belmond in Wright County. The family later moved to a farmstead east of Belmond. Virginia attended Belmond Schools and graduated from Belmond High School with the Class of 1938.

Jenny’s life long faith journey began at an early age and continued throughout her entire life until her last breath. In her younger years she was very involved in ladies church organizations. Following this organization Virginia played an integral role and was a Charter Member of the CDA-Court St. Francis #1230 in 1938 and she was the last surviving charter member prior to her passing. Her roles in her church were many and include being on numerous committees and groups such as the Social Concerns, Rosary Society, was a Catechism teacher, Eucharistic Minister, amongst other church bodies.

Jenny loved children, especially infants and had relished her job as a nurses aide at the Belmond Hospital caring for countless newborns there for more that 25 years.

Her love for others was a special characteristic that carried her throughout the years where she could be defined as a consummate caregiver. For many years she had cared for her parents with whom she had lived on the farm and then she moved with them into town in the mid 1950s.

Jenny enjoyed hosting gatherings of family and friends and preparing meals and treats for her guests. She was always willing to share whatever she had with others. A favorite gathering over the years was when she entertained them with “Midnight Lunches” following midnight Christmas Eve Masses. She greatly appreciated her nieces and nephews and their families and looked forward to being invited into their lives and activities. Jenny looked forward to shopping outings and most certainly they must include dining out.

During her retirement years Virginia enjoyed traveling especially during the winters when Jenny would travel with a friend from Colorado to visit Father Thomas Currier. She had been to Mexico, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Black Hills.

Prior to becoming a resident of the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond in September of 2012, Ginny had spent many years at the Belmond Community Apartments.

Those who had the privilege of crossing in her life footprints will reflect fondly on Virginia’s tremendous faith, her welcoming and warm demeanor and of course her willingness to accept all, but in turn share her insights, values, and beliefs in the rights and wrongs of living life.

Her memory will remain in the lives of her 35 nieces and nephews and their families, as well as other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Marguerite Studebaker, Irene Reiland, Josephine Quigley, Marian Kuper, brothers Ira “Babe” Studebaker, Tony Charles “Honey” Studebaker, also two sisters died in infancy. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
July 18, 2016