Necrology

Sr. Virginia Marie Daly, FMM (M. Timothy of Jesus)

Sr. Virginia Daly worked part time for three years as a cashier while a high school student.

She was introduced to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary by a friend and a classmate who planned to enter the Institute.

After graduating from High School, Sr. Virginia Daly, at the age of seventeen years old entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at Fruit Hill, North Providence September 19, 1945.

After pronouncing her first vows, March 19, 1948, she was sent in mission to Our Lady of Good Help, in Orient Heights, East Boston where she cared for children.

In 1949, when the mission at Orient Heights was moved, she was one of the first group of Sisters missioned to care for physically challenged children at Kennedy Memorial Hospital now known as Franciscan Hospital for Children. She brought much joy, consolation and TLC as she ministered to these children’s physical, spiritual, and emotional needs during their formative years.

After pronouncing her final vows June 13, 1951, she was missioned to St. Clement’s Eucharistic Shrine in Boston where she served as an assistant to the superior.

In 1957, she served as a group mother in Divine Providence Shelter for children in Manhattan, NY.

From 1958 to 1961, while in Holy Family Community, N. Providence, she taught religious education in local parishes. She also worked in the FMM printing press at Fruit Hill as a linotype operator, which required great skill.

In 1962, she was missioned to Mt. St. Francis Orphanage and School in Woonsocket. Throughout her younger years, she was very involved in ministries with children and teen agers. Some of these teenagers have remained in touch with Sr. Virginia.

After receiving an associate degree in business administration, she served as the Treasurer in St. Anthony’s Community and beginning in 1974 the Provincial treasurer for several years in Manhattan, NY.

Virginia then began studies in Newburg, New York and received a Master’s degree in Gerontology. As her work with children had been so successful because of her loving care, so too, her shift to caring for the Elderly in the Fruit Hill Day Center in Providence gave Virginia a broader scope of being a loving presence to those elderly and ill, who came to Fruit Hill during the working hours of family members — this allowed the elderly to remain in the family as long as possible. When Sr. Ruth Crawley, foundress and executive director of the Fruit Hill Day Center for Elderly was seriously ill and no longer able to continue in this capacity, Sr. Virginia was appointed as the executive director. She served in this capacity until 2002 when she herself became ill.

She was awarded a Greetings and Congratulations Certificate from Governor Almond’s Office in September 2001.

The last years of Sr. Virginia’s life contained much physical suffering, which she bore patiently and courageously. She remained keen of mind and was an inspiration to those who cared for her especially at St. Antoine’s Residence.

Sr. Virginia died peacefully on the Feast day of the Queenship of Mary.