Virginia Moody

Our Aunt “Dinna” was born in Detroit, Michigan to John Henry and Gertrude Amos, both teachers. She was the middle of three children and is survived by her younger brother Tom Amos. Her elder sister Betty passed away two months ago. Dinna spent her early childhood in the Michigan cities of Detroit, Frankfort, and Jackson. Her happiest Michigan memories were spending summers with her family and cousins at Crystal Lake at the five vacation cabins that her grandfather built.

In 1947, the Amos family took their first road trip to California after her Dad had attended a conference in Los Angeles. They squeezed into their car, along with their dog BoBo and cat Mowie, for a long road trip to California. In 1948, they took their second road trip to California because they loved it so much. Dinna’s family was adventurous and loved to travel, something she carried with her into adulthood and always enjoyed.

In 1950, the family initially moved to Cupertino, California but later settled permanently in San Jose. Dinna attended St Mary’s School of San Jose and later graduated from Notre Dame High School (1956). She pursued higher education and graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University (B.A. 1960) in Belmont, Stanford University (M.A. 1963) in Palo Alto, and Santa Clara University (M.B.A. 1976).

Dinna’s early employment included teaching High School at Notre Dame in San Jose. She followed this with work for the USO coordinating recreational programs for enlisted personnel and their families. She was stationed in Berlin, Germany and Seoul, Korea from 1966 to 1971. While stationed in Germany she met an attractive Lieutenant Colonel named Gordon Moody. They became engaged but decided to separate. Later, she worked for the YWCA in Yakima, Washington and Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California. While working in Oakland, she received a phone call from a visiting Gordon Moody. They confided to each other that they had never stopped loving each other and resumed their courtship.

In 1980, Dinna and Gordon married at Santa Clara Mission. They immediately relocated to Seattle, Washington. Dinna initially worked for the Seattle Health Consortium. Later, she worked and retired from Boeing Commercial Aerospace as an internal auditor. Gordon and Dinna did not have children of their own but were actively involved in spoiling their nieces and nephews. Gordon and Dinna had a guest room and enjoyed being host and tour guide for out of town friends and family. She and Gordon especially loved the wonderful local restaurants. When Dinna joined Gordon as a retiree, she filled her days volunteering at the local animal shelter and the local senior center.

In 2005, Gordon passed away. Dinna decided to relocate to San Jose, California to be closer to family. She bought the house directly across the street from two nieces and near her sister and brother-in-law. Dinna shared her unconditional love and wisdom with her family. She enjoyed reading, cooking, flower arranging, decorating, entertaining, making crafts, going on religious retreats, watching movies, attending theater, and attending seminars at Santa Clara University. Dinna was a world traveler and storyteller. She thoughtfully shared her interesting experiences and view of the world. She was a great listener and was always interested in our lives as well as meeting new people. She was dedicated to good health and worked out with her friends at the Central YMCA and by walking her beloved dogs Murphy and Bisbee.

Dinna was instrumental in providing loving care for her sister with dementia. As her sister’s dementia became disabling, Dinna took on a matriarchal role in our family by organizing and hosting family holiday dinners and Easter egg hunts. She always remembered birthdays and special occasions. Like our Mom, she always made us feel special.

Dinna loved being Catholic. She fully embraced her faith and was actively involved as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at the Santa Clara Mission. She especially enjoyed making weekly pastoral support visits to women incarcerated at the Santa Clara County Jail through the Diocese of San Jose Restorative Justice Program. She was also an active member of the Catala Club of Santa Clara University.

Dinna was tragically taken from us when she was hit by a motorist while walking her dog. She touched many lives and will be greatly missed. Dinna was truly a special person who made this world a better place. She will be greatly missed by her brother Tom (Marilee), brother-in-law Al, nephews Mark, Steven (Alison) and David (Michele), nieces Catherine (Brian) and Elizabeth (Keith), great nieces Anna (Zeb), Emily, Jenny, and Sarah, and great nephews Daniel and Mateo, along with her late husband’s niece Elizabeth and nephew Noel.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Homeboy Industries of Los Angeles.