Virginia L. Buchanan

Virginia Louise Schieffler Buchanan, 97 3/4 years young, died at Grace Presbyterian Village, her home for the past seven years, on November 4, 2017. Born in West Helena, Arkansas, her parents were Robert and Nellie Kent Schieffler. She attended Woodruff High School, graduating in 1937, and enrolled as a nursing student at St. Vincent’s Hospital in West New Brighton, Staten Island. After a three-year course of study she became a Registered Nurse. In 1939, one of Virginia’s patients, in the hospital where she worked as a nursing student, announced that she wanted Virginia to meet her brother, Arthur. They met, and as the sister suspected might happen, fell in love and married on April 14, 1946. They settled in Staten Island, where Arthur had grown up.

It can be said that Virginia’s nursing career began the day she lifted up her toddler brother whose neck had been pierced by a stick in the woods, and was bleeding profusely, and carried him from the woods to their home. Her quick response at such a young age saved his life, and initiated her into the life as a medical missionary for care wherever she went. During her forty-year career as a nurse, she worked at St. Vincent’s, the Bronx Hospital, the Staten Island Hospital on Castleton Avenue, and the Staten Island University Hospital. For the last twelve years of her nursing career, she served as Head Nurse for Maternity. Nursing was both a career and a vocation; upon retirement Virginia entered “full-time” status as a visitor and helper of people over the years. Doing housework, meal preparation, yardwork, as well as medical duties, Virginia helped to ease the burden of the sick and shut-ins in her community.

She did all this while busy raising two sons, Ronald and Bruce, and once they were grown and had families, loved being of assistance to them as they raised their children.

She was also a strong supporter of her church, Calvary Presbyterian on Staten Island, which she joined in 1945, serving over the years as a Deacon, an Elder, an assistant church treasurer, and a teacher in the Sunday School. She frequently visited members who were sick or shut-ins. She was also co-founder of the 50+ group and with her husband maintained the retiree activities for the church. She was a fifty plus year member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Membership Chair of the West Brighton AARP.

In 2004, she moved to Richardson, Texas to live with her son Bruce and his family. There she joined First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, and enjoyed becoming involved with The Stewpot, directed by her son. But best of all was the joy of being a part of her grandson’s, Ben, life as he went through high school, practicing percussion and piano under her watchful eye.

Born on January 27, 1920, she loved remembering others’ birthdays. She kept a store of birthday cards to send to siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews and friends from near and far. For several years at First Presbyterian Church, Dallas she was the official birthday caller, responsible for calling each of the 1500 members on their birthdays.

For Virginia, family came first, but her care for so many others resulted in an extended family of friends throughout Grace Presbyterian Village, after she moved there in 2011. Though she retired from nursing in the 1990s, her retirement only truly took effect on the day she died because she worried about and for many of the residents from roommates to tablemates to friends and she often advised the nursing staff on what their priorities should be. The nursing staff always responded with kindness and good humor to her suggestions.

She was proud to share her grandchildren Douglas and Benjamin and their musical talents with Grace residents, and was always in the front row for their concerts and impromptu performances.

Virginia was predeceased by her parents and her four siblings: Dorothy Slesinski, Marguerite Acoach, Robert and Eugene Schieffler. She is survived by her sons Ronald Buchanan and his wife Cora of Virginia, and Bruce Buchanan and Carol Adams of Richardson, TX, five grandchildren, Ronny Jay, Christina, Melanie, and Douglas and Benjamin, and several great grandchildren.

The family appreciates the loving care provided by the staff of Grace Presbyterian Village and Faith Presbyterian Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be sent either to The Stewpot, 1835 Young St, Dallas, TX 75201 or Calvary Presbyterian Church, 909 Castleton Ave, Staten Island, NY 10310.