Virginia Mary Pfalzer

Virginia Mary Pfalzer, 92, passed peacefully on April 16, 2023, in Bothell, Washington, surrounded by her family. Virginia was born in Spokane, Washington to Hazel and Joseph. She was preceded by her parents and brother, Robert J.

Virginia attended Holy Names Academy, Seattle (1947). Like her mother, she chose to become a Registered Nurse, completing her Bachelor of Science at Seattle University in 1953. She began her career at Swedish Medical Center as an operating room nurse, later leading as Charge Nurse in orthopedic surgery. Virginia was fascinated by surgery and especially enjoyed being a circulating nurse in the OR. While raising her children, Virginia incorporated her love of children practicing as a school nurse. After a 20-year hiatus, Virginia returned to her beloved OR nursing, working 10 years at Overlake Hospital Outpatient Surgery until she retired at age 70.

Virginia met her husband and love of her life James Lawrence “Larry” Pfalzer in 1962 while on a Chancellor Club outing to Stehekin on Lake Chelan. They married in August 1963. The next four years brought moves to Huntsville, Alabama and Fort Wayne, Indiana for Larry’s work and the arrival of three children. Virginia and Larry returned to Seattle in 1967 and soon after settled in Bothell, Washington where they welcomed two more children and lived for 50 years. In the last 4 years of her life, Virginia resided with Larry and enjoyed the community at Chateau at Bothell Landing.

Virginia viewed her most important roles as wife and mother. She was the ultimate caretaker of the Pfalzer clan, being comforter, cheerleader, educator, cook and baker, party organizer, and gentle disciplinarian. She was also the perfect grandmother and aunt, balancing fun, and support. She demonstrated genuine kindness to family, friends, and strangers alike, and welcomed all to her home, often for a piece of her legendary pies.

A native Washingtonian and consummate Seattleite, Virginia loved downtown Seattle, the waterfront, the Frye Museum, the Olympic Hotel, and going out to lunch at Frederick & Nelson or The Bon Marche. She was a life-long baseball fan, first of the Seattle Pilots and then the Seattle Mariners, and never missed an opportunity to root for her team.

The outdoors was Virginia’s place to relax. An avid camper, hiker, and traveler, she was the driving force behind getting out on family camping trips to Mount Rainier (a second home to the Pfalzer family), Camano Island, Deception Pass, and farther travel to most of the mountain west. In retirement, she and Larry enjoyed cruises, trips to Europe, and driving the Alaskan Highway. She was always up for a jaunt, even if just for a ferry ride and ice cream.

Her Roman Catholic faith was a cornerstone of her life, and she demonstrated it through her unfailing commitment as a parishioner of St. Brendan Catholic Church and School (Bothell, Washington) where all five children graduated. She loved volunteering as a school nurse, but she contributed countless hours to many parts of the school. Her contributions to St. Brendan Church spanned nearly 50 years.

Virginia’s life-long passion for helping women, mothers, and children resulted in passage of Washington State’s Safe Haven law for newborn children in 2002. Starting in 1999 until 2010, she led the formation and was the President of Safe Place for Newborns of Washington, a non-profit organization that brought about this key legislation. Her tireless work brought awareness and education on the Safe Haven law to high schools, colleges, hospitals, clinics, and fire stations across Washington State and has resulted in many newborn lives saved and assistance for pregnant women, a testament and legacy to her life.

Virginia’s spirit lives on in her husband James Lawrence “Larry” Pfalzer; children Anna Sterner (David), Joe Pfalzer (Susan), Laurie Pfalzer, Sheila Mitchell (Brad), and Jim Pfalzer; grandchildren Joshua Sterner, Helen Pfalzer, Naielle Pfalzer, and Linnea Mitchell; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials and donations in Virginia’s name may be made to Safe Place for Newborns or Seattle University Nursing Annual Scholarship Fund.