My first recollections of Aunt Virginia, I was very young when she became a nun.
I found her costume to be quite alien so I didn't quite know what to expect.
We didn't have much contact since she moved away from Rome while I was growing up there.
We became much better acquainted when I moved to Albany in 1984.
We shared a few precious moments
My daughter, Rachel's 1st Birthday party in November 1993.
Aunt Virginia's 60th Birthday party in 1994.
She recently hosted us in a family gathering at Crooked Lake.
Some of the things I will remember about Aunt Virginia
her grace,
calm demeaner,
playful humor and
her lack of self-importance.
She is a pretty big deal, had accomplished a lot in life
but she always engaged you on a peer-to-peer level.
She made you feel important.
Even though I am a prodigal son in the eyes of the Catholic church -
rarely go to church and I married outside the faith ( a Jewish girl), Aunt Virginia never judged me.
I appreciate that.
Her smile could light up a room. I am sure her talents will be missed by many.
Wish I got to know her better. I know she was cool, much more hip than you'd expect from a nun.
She was a skilled hostess with great appetizer and beverage recipes.
Scanning through the Academy of Holy Names website I came across their mission statement.
Aspirations for their students, to become
Life-long learners, thinkers, and seekers of truth
Moral decision makers
Confident leaders in service to others
Skillful builders of a better world
Crafters of peace
I'm sure this statement had her fingerprints all over it.
I can't think of a more purposeful calling.
I expect she helped a lot of people over her 60 year career.
I will miss her. I'm happy my daughters got to meet her.
Perhaps my affinity with her stems from our common sense of life priorities -
Raise children who are
good people
capable
emotionally secure
free to discover their talents
This has always been most important to me.
And that formula works great.
My girls are wonderful people.
They are likely better adjusted to the rigors of life than I am.
Thanks for being a great leader, Aunt Virginia.
John Gaffey
My most vivid memory of Virginia was when the Dunn side of the family had a big picnic at Verona Beach.
I was 12 and Virginia just 18. It was there I learned she was soon to enter the novitiate.
I was struck by her beauty and radiant smile and marveled that she had chosen to become a nun.
As an adult, I admired Virginia’s incredible career achievements from afar and could then understand
why she answered God’s calling with so much enthusiasm.
