Mary Virginia Cosgrove

Age 96 of Bellevue, WA passed away peacefully with her family by her side after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Virginia was born July 14,1925 in Flushing, Michigan to Paul and Catherine Bueche. She was the second of five children, the only girl. Virginia graduated from Flushing High School in 1943 and traveled to Detroit to Marygrove College to major in Chemistry, graduating in 1947. She taught kindergarten for a year prior to marrying the love of her life, Benjamin A. Cosgrove in 1948 and then moving to Seattle for Ben’s job at Boeing. They had 5 children whom they raised in Normandy Park. Virginia was a doting mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her life was filled with family, good friends and church. She was often volunteering for her children’s extracurricular activities, and she had a passion for working with children at the Head Start Program in the Highline School District.

After raising their children, Virginia began volunteering for the King County Court in Burien and helped formulate a pioneer program to help those with DUIs have their sentences deferred if they received treatment. She subsequently went to Seattle University and received a certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling. She worked at Schick Shadel Hospital as a chemical dependency counselor.

Virginia and Ben traveled extensively through the years. She was the ultimate hostess. She loved entertaining, was an exceptional cook, and had the gift of putting people at ease and making them feel welcome. She appreciated a good party with music and dancing. She enjoyed sewing, reading, and playing bridge. She delighted in playing and winning at Scrabble with words that no one had heard of. She also had a knack for completing the New York Times crossword puzzle either before Ben or finishing it when he gave up.

Virginia was preceded in death by her loving husband, Benjamin A. Cosgrove, son Timothy Paul Cosgrove, daughter Elizabeth Ann Thoen and three brothers Maynard, Wendell, and Phillip Bueche. Virginia is survived by her brother Howard Bueche (Virginia), son Terrance Cosgrove (Theresa) and daughters Patricia Cosgrove (Michael Sampson), Barbara Cosgrove (Frank Yandrasits), and our Kenyan Sister and caregiver, Lydia Mose. Ten grandchildren Benjamin III and Trace Cosgrove, Megan and Quinn Cosgrove, Joey(Megan) and Tony(Lalanda) Valela, Michelle Mitchell, Nichole Petterson(Leif), Eric(Maggie) and Bradley(Mandi) Yandrasits and ten great grandchildren: Benjamin IV, Chloe, Mason, Joseph III, June, Luella, Chayse, Aulyana, Finnegan, and Dean

The family would like to thank all the caregivers and staff at Aegis of Bellevue, Home Care Assistance, Providence Hospice, and Dr. Nishino. Your support and love for Virginia is greatly appreciated.

Please join us in the celebration of her life beginning on Thursday, August 26th – Viewing (5-8 pm) and Rosary (7pm) at Sunset Hills Funeral Home Chapel, 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA. Funeral Mass on Friday, August 27th, at 11:00am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 220 Mountain Park Blvd SW, Issaquah, WA. A reception will be held from 3-7pm at The Golf Club at Newcastle, 15500 Six Penny Ln, Newcastle, WA. Wear your Sunday finest and red is best! Virginia will be buried privately. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s Pancreatic Cancer or Lung Research (www.fredhutch.org) or St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and School(www.sjcissaquah.org).