Sister Virginia Murphy

Sister
Virginia Murphy, CSA, formerly known as Sister Patrick, died peacefully on
September 19, 2015, at St. Francis Home, Fond du Lac, WI.

Virginia was
born in New York City, NY, on December 30, 1930, to John Joseph Murphy and
Ethel Mae La Belle Murphy.  There were four
boys and four girls in the family of which she was the oldest.  Having entered St. Agnes Convent in July
1946, Virginia made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of the
Sisters of St. Agnes on November 11, 1950, as Sister Patrick.  She received a B.S. in Education from Marian
College of Fond du Lac, WI, an M.S. in Education Administration from Purdue
University, West Lafayette, IN, and an M.A. in Library and Information Science
from Rosary College, River Forest, IL. In addition, Sister Virginia continued
to update her education through the years at a number of higher education
institutions. 

She was a grade
school teacher for 31 years, and she also served as principal for 12 of those years
in WI, PA, IL, and IN.  From 1981 to 1995,
Sister was the Director of Libraries at Marian College, Fond du Lac.  In 1995 Sister Virginia was appointed the
Local Coordinator for the sisters who resided at Nazareth Heights Infirmary.  She was dedicated to forming community with
the sisters there and was a caring presence among them. When the residents of
Nazareth Heights moved to the newly constructed Nazareth Court and Center,
Sister Virginia’s ministry and care   were
devoted to the residents of the Alzheimer’s Unit at St. Francis Home. Sister
had a special gift for helping those with dementia, and she assisted the staff as
a volunteer until December 2013.

Sister was preceded
in death by her parents John Joseph Murphy and Ethel Mae (La Belle) Murphy and
her brother John (Jack) Murphy.

She is survived
by: her brothers Peter Murphy, Joseph Murphy and Paul Murphy; her sisters Patricia
Foley, Alice Murphy, and Maryann Salvin; and the Sisters of St. Agnes, with
whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Visitation
for Sister Virginia will be held at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett
Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, September 23, at 9:00 a.m.  A prayer service will be held at 11:00 a.m.
on the same date.

A Mass of
Christian Burial:  on Wednesday, September
23, at 2:00 p.m. in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin.   Father Ken Smits, Capuchin, will be the presider.
 Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs
Cemetery.

Memorials can
be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Development Office, 320 County Road K,
Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters
of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and
Center/St. Francis Home for their care of Sister Virginia and for the recent
care of the staff of Hospice Hope.

Zacherl
Funeral Home is serving the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes.
www.zacherlfuneralhome.com