Sister Virginia Vey, OSB died on October 3, 2016. She was born in Pittsburg, PA on September 4, 1924 to Eugene Charles Vey, Sr. and May Julia Thunell. She is preceded in death by both parents and her siblings Dorothy A. Belsh, Eugene C. Vey Jr., and Sister Mildred Vey, OSB.
Sister Virginia went to St. Benedict’s High School in Pittsburg and then to Mt. Saint Scholastica College in Atchison, KS. She taught in mission schools in Mexico and in 1950 entered Mt. Saint Scholastica where she made her final profession in 1954. After entering, Sister Virginia continued teaching both as an elementary and high school teacher in Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado.
Colorado held a special place in Sister Virginia’s heart and she transferred her monastic profession to Benet Hill Monastery in 1971. One of the highlights of her career was teaching at Benet Hill Academy. She taught classes in Spanish, literature, speech, typing, contemporary moral problem and civics. Sister Virginia was passionate about teaching the contemporary moral problems class to the young women at the Academy, which included prison reform and fighting against the proliferation of nuclear weapons. During her ten years at Benet Hill Academy, she also served the community as an assistant to Sister Liguori Sullivan in the development office.
In 1980, Sister Virginia’s life took a turn. She took a position at the University of Pittsburg’s dean’s office so she could care for her aging mother. After her mother’s death in 1985, she returned to Benet Hill and taught at St. Mary’s High School and worked at Fort Carson. Sister Virginia served as assistant prioress from 1987- 91.
In 1992 Sister Virginia was presented with a new opportunity in ministry and she accepted a position in the Fourth Judicial Court in Colorado Springs. She began working with people who were on probation and then moved to the records department. Her ten-year career with the courts enhanced her gift of compassion. After working for a decade in the court system she retired.
Retirement did not mean an end to ministry for Sister Virginia. She accepted her physical limitations and began using the computer and offering spiritual companionship to many people throughout the United States and even in other countries via email.
She was not intimidated by any circumstance and always gave one hundred percent. Sister Virginia took life in stride accepting any challenge. The most important things to her were commitment to community, family, and the people of God.
