Virginia Marie Ford

Virginia Marie Ford, 92, Kansas City North, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2011 at The Gardens on Barry Road. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Monday, January 24th at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, where a visitation will be from 9:00-10:00 AM. The Rite of Committal will be 1:30 PM Monday at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS. In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 4737 N Cleveland, Kansas City, MO 64117 or the University of St. Mary, 4100 S 4th St, Leavenworth, KS 66048.

Virginia was born January 12, 1919 in Kansas City, KS and lived most of her life in this area. She was a charter member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was a member of St. Mary’s Circle Altar Society and the Daughter’s of Isabella. Virginia graduated from Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City and was an alumnus of the University of St. Mary, Leavenworth. She started her career as a Registered Nurse with the FBI in Los Angeles, CA where she met her husband, John Ford. For the next 20 years Virginia was an Army wife and traveled the world with her husband during his assignments. Upon retirement they moved to Kansas City where Virginia worked as a RN for North Kansas City Hospital for 10 years before her retirement. John and Virginia spent many wonderful years traveling extensively, enjoying family and friends. Virginia loved her family, friends, pets, the Roman Catholic Church and St. Gabriel Parish, her neighbors in Sherwood Estates, her Irish heritage, reading, being a RN, and cardinal birds. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, John, and a sister, Patricia Cotter.

Virginia is survived by her children, Mike (Debbie) Ford of SC, Don (Kathie) Ford, and Kathi (Nelson Allen) Ford, all of KC; 5 grandchildren, Judy (Donnie) Ford, Bryan (Christina) Ford, Matt (Cathy) Ford, Neil (Karen) Allen, and Patricia Allen; 6 great grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks for the wonderful staff of The Gardens on Barry Road; www.mcgilleyantiochchapel.com

Your Mother Is Always With You…

She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She’s the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks. She’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. She’s crystallized in every tear drop. She’s the place you came from, your first home… she’s the map you follow with every step that you take. She’s your first love and your first heartbreak…and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, nor space…not even death…will ever separate you from your Mother…

You carry her inside of you.