Virginia Rose Campion Strauss was born in Hallettsville, Texas on March 30, 1924 to Edward J Campion and Mary Seger Campion, the youngest of five children. She died peacefully at home on September 8th, 2019 at the age of 95. She became a Registered Nurse in 1945 and married Jack Ernest Strauss on July 23, 1949. She worked in the newborn nursery at Santa Rosa hospital, had two children, and went into school nursing to be off during the summers with her daughters. She returned to graduate school while working as a School Nurse in San Antonio and became a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1976.
She enjoyed traveling with her husband after their retirement, and continued to do so on her own after his death in 2000. She traveled to Ireland, went on a cruise in Alaska, and in her 80’s she took her first Zip-line canopy tour while on a trip to Costa Rica, and first hot air balloon ride in New Mexico. She credits her long and healthy life to her dedication to water aerobics, which she faithfully attended three times a week at HealthLink up until 3 months prior to her death.
Virginia loved to read several books a week, even after macular degeneration and glaucoma required larger print and eventually the invention of the Kindle. She attended Catholic Mass daily and her choice to move to Assisted Living at Villa de San Antonio was heavily influenced by their Mass schedule. The family wishes to thank the all staff at Villa for their loving care during her last years. They managed to gracefully assist her while she steadfastly insisted on maintaining her independence.
She is survived by her two daughters, Jeanne Strauss and Elizabeth Massa, and her two grandsons, Nate Massa and Will Massa, her numerous nieces and nephews, and adopted family members. It took a village to keep up with Virginia, and her daughters want to thank everyone who brought her comfort, support and prayers and all who took her shopping, out to breakfast and lunch, and to Church in her final years and months. Services for Virginia will be on Friday, September 13th. The Rosary will be at 10:30 am with the Funeral Mass to follow at 11am and will be held at Oblate School of Theology Chapel at 285 Oblate Drive. The graveside service will commence at Sunset Memorial Park at 1701 Austin Highway. Friends and family will gather at the home of Jeanne Strauss following the services.
