Virginia Rita Coticchia (nee Burns) Passed away peacefully at the age of 94. Beloved wife of the late Donald. Dear mother of James (Claudia) and the late Michael (Lori). Cherished grandmother of Caroline (Jake) Odell, Pierce (Alexis), Madeleine, Kimberly, Alexandra, Timothy, Ellen, Julie and Kristen and great grandmother to 3.
Virginia was born February 5, 1926 in Garfield Heights, Ohio. She was the older sibling to her sister, Joan. She and Joan were inseparable and remained close their entire lives. She also had a very close relationship with her parents. She fondly remembered her mother walking her to school every day, even in bitter Ohio winter weather. Her father, who could fix just about anything, taught her all about cars as he had an auto repair shop with his brothers where she spent many hours helping out. Many happy times were also spent with the Burns cousins who lived nearby.
A strong Catholic, she went to Our Lady of Lourdes and she was very proud to have attended Holy Name High School, a private school, even in the midst of the depression. After high school she worked at The Garland Company. When IBM came into the company to set up computers in the 1940s, she was one of the very first programmers. She caught on to the job quickly and impressed the people at IBM so much that they offered to give her a job! It was at The Garland Company that she met Don, the love of her life, who became her husband for nearly 60 years. They were blessed with two sons. When the boys were very young, Virginia supported Don who worked for Ashland Chemical full time while also attending law school. The family moved to Columbus, Ohio for the next twenty years. Her husband traveled frequently for work and Virginia took her role as a mother very seriously, giving her boys her full attention. She and Don sent the boys to parochial schools and church every Sunday. They made sure the boys always got a good education.
She was shy by nature. However, as the wife of a business man she attended many important events, including an annual trip to the Kentucky Derby. She recalled the first trip where she had to sit next to “the boss”. She was nervous but quickly became at ease when she started proudly telling him about her sons.
She enjoyed traveling and visited many countries with her children and grandchildren. Ireland was her favorite trip and she was incredibly proud of her Irish heritage.
Virginia dedicated her life to taking care of her family and always made sure that everyone was happy and safe. She put everyone’s needs above her own, whether that was for her own family or a complete stranger, and she never failed to put a smile on everyone’s face. Her selflessness, intelligence, humor, and compassion made her the best wife, mother and grandmother.
Funeral Mass will take place at 12:30 PM on Thursday July 2, 2020 at St. Christopher Church, 20141 Detroit Rd. Rocky River, OH., where the family will receive friends from 12 Noon until time of Funeral Mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests Memorial Contributions be made to Michael L. Coticchia University of Notre Dame Memorial Law Fellowship Endowment, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.
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