Virginia A. O'Malley

VIRGINIA A. O’MALLEY (nee Furda), age 95. Beloved wife of the late Walter; devoted mother of Karen Bokoch (John-deceased), Nancy Kyle, JoAnne Williams (deceased)(Pat), Kevin, Walter (Lynne), Mary Martens (Bruce), Jeannie Sefcik (Gary-deceased), Patrick (Mona), Therese Buckley (Tom), Anne O’Malley-Donegan (Norm Manek), and Michael; cherished grandmother of 31 and great-grandmother of 47.

Mom was born on December 7, 1927 in Rankin, Pennsylvania. She was the second of four children born to Theresa and Michael Furda. Although her given name is Virginia she has always been called Jean by her family and friends. Jean was a good student and attended Rankin schools until her senior year when her family moved to Cleveland. She graduated from John Marshall High School in 1945. Upon graduation from high school she began working for NACA which later became NASA. Her high school math teacher had recommended her for the job because of her mathematical abilities. In the Spring of 1946, she was teaching her younger brother to ride a bike when she met a young man who had returned home from the War. His mother lived across the street and his name was Walter O’Malley. That Saturday they had their first date - a bike ride to Edgewater Park. They married later that year on July 6, 1946. Together they raised 11 children. Mom raised her 11 children to value education, to be independent and to love and respect each other. In her later years Mom enjoyed winters in Florida, volunteering at the local hospital, watercolor painting, going to concerts with friends and visiting casinos. We were blessed to have had our Mom for so many years. We will miss her forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org/cleveland   

Mass of Christian Burial 11:30 am, Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at St. Mary Church, 250 Kraft St., Berea  EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH  Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Arrangements by the A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH (West of I-71).