Virginia Ann Ferris

Virginia was born on September 13, 1928, the 3rd child of Budway and Jennie (née Joseph) Gabriel in New Castle, PA. She graduated from New Castle High School. Shortly after graduation she met and married the love of her life, Ferris P. Ferris. Together they raised a family of 7 children. They moved from New Castle, PA to Boston, MA and finally settled in Waterville, ME for many years. While living in Waterville, Virginia worked as a District Manager for Avon Products. She drove throughout the entire state meeting people and making lifelong friends along the way. Her signature look turned heads whether dressed for a meeting or when dancing at the Hafli to raise money for St Joseph’s Maronite Church.

When their children left Maine, Virginia insisted on moving the family to Las Vegas to be nearer to their grandchildren. The family continued to grow to include12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren with another one set to soon join the family!

Grace, elegance, determination beauty, and strength are just a few adjectives that describe this remarkable woman. She exemplified these qualities throughout her life. She saw obstacles as challenges to overcome and expected the same from those around her.

Virginia impacted the lives of countless many with her kindness, encouragement, positivity, and especially her cooking. Her table was a gathering place for people of every tribe, and she dispensed advice as generously as she did food, lending always her strong values as guidance and inspiration for those whom she cared.

Virginia lived for God and her family. She is survived by her children: Richard Ferris, Karen Eisner, Freddy Ferris, Sheila Ferris-Beaton; Joseph (Christy) Ferris; Lori & Doug DeCreny, Peter & Alina Ferris; grandchildren: Michael (Tania) Eisner, Jamie Z, Jennifer (nee Beaton) & Jonathan Handler, Robert Ferris, Beau & Robyn Boudreau, Harrison & Katie DeCreny, Budway (Kelsey) Ferris, Douglas DeCreny, FayRae (Xander) Ferris, Mary Ferris, Ferris Ferris and Gabriel Ferris; Great-grandchildren: Jemma & Carter DeCreny, Jameson Handler and Beau Boudreau. Virginia’s two surviving sisters Helen Gentile and Lorraine Shaheen will miss her deeply. As a lifelong member of the Catholic Church she prayed for each and every one of us. Her family holds no doubt she will continue to watch over each of us as our guardian angel.

In death she joins her beloved, her one true love, her husband Ferris Peter Ferris. This year marks 77 years of their union in matrimony. Now enveloped in her arms are those who predeceased her: parents, Budway and Jennie Gabriel; siblings, Cecila Maritch, John Gabriel, and Eugene Gabriel; and great-grandchildren Bennett and Lennon DeCreny.

Virginia was a blazing star of a person. The might of her love is such that even death cannot extinguish its flame. While she will be profoundly missed in this world, the joy and love she inspired will carry on in the hearts of all who knew her.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Virginia Ferris to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) 914 Market Street La Crosse, WI 54601.

Services will be held in both Las Vegas, NV and Waterville, ME.

Las Vegas, NV

Wake: Tuesday May 28th 4-8pm

Palm Mortuary

800 S Boulder Highway

Henderson, NV 89015

Light refreshments will be served

Mass: Wednesday May 29th 10am

St Anne’s Catholic Church

1813 S Maryland Parkway

Las Vegas, NV

Maine services

Viewing: Friday May 31st 6-8pm

Gallant Funeral home

10 Elm St.

Waterville, ME 04901

(207) 873-3393

Funeral Mass: Saturday June 1st 10am

St Joseph’s Maronite Church

3 Appleton Street

Waterville, ME 04901

Burial immediately following Mass

St. Francis Catholic Cemetery

78 Grove Street

Waterville, ME 04901