Virginia Catherine (Burke) Walter

Virginia Catherine Walter (nee Burke) passed peacefully on September 10, 2021 after receiving the Last Rites of her Catholic faith. Virginia was born in Pennsylvania on September 17, 1940 and grew up in Audubon and Bordentown, New Jersey. She graduated from Sacred Heart grade school in Mt. Ephraim in 1954 and the all-girls Cathedral high school in Trenton in 1958. After graduation she was employed for the next four years in the Office of Civil Defense for the State of New Jersey. Virginia's most challenging assignment was covering for her boss when he was following the ponies running at one of the well-known race tracks in the region - usually Garden State or Atlantic City. Virginia and Joe were married in 1962 at St. Mary's Church in historic Bordentown. They relocated shortly thereafter to Blacksburg, Virginia where she served as secretary in the Dean of Engineering's office to support their "lavish lifestyle" as a young married couple at Virginia Tech.
Then came the move to Akron in 1966 with first son Joe born in September followed by twin sons Mike and Marty less than a year later. Virginia quickly decided to become a fulltime homemaker with three infants to tend to - in an era before Pampers. She was a frequent volunteer for the boys' many school activities and afterhours programs at St. Hilary grade school and Walsh Jesuit high school.
As empty nesters, Virginia and Joe relocated to Rome, Italy in 1994 for transformational experiences in food, culture and religion. She promptly became active in the parish life and related functions within the Church of Santa Susanna. Virginia drove the Roman streets with panache while manually shifting gears of her VW Golf or Opel Vectra. She especially enjoyed spending long weekends in Capri and exploring the hill towns north of Rome. Virginia and Joe returned to Akron in 1999 to reside in their longtime Fairlawn Heights home with annual wintery retreats to Orange Beach, Alabama on the Gulf Coast.
Virginia gave much of herself to family and others, whether preparing and serving holiday meals, hosting large dinner parties here and abroad, delivering mobile meals to the elderly, or providing clothing to the homeless in Rome. She had been blessed with good health for 78 of her 80 years until the ravages of Alzheimer's took hold. During good times and adversity, Virginia's Catholic faith steadied her journey throughout life and always provided comfort.
Virginia is survived by her husband of 59 years, son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Mary of Buford, Georgia, son and daughter-in-law Mike and Leanne of Long Grove, Illinois, son Marty of Fairlawn, Ohio, sister and brother-in-law Marge and Ricky Caporusso of Easthampton, New Jersey, sister-in-law Joan Walter in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and grandchildren Jennifer, Emily, Anthony, Taylor, Alexandra and Andrew as well as many nieces and nephews. Family members that have passed include her father and mother, Lawrence and Anna Burke and sister Ann Kenworthy. Heartfelt thanks to the supportive staff at Arden Courts who provided Virginia with the needed professional care and comfort during these final trying months.
Calling hours 4-7p.m. Tuesday at Ciriello and Carr Funeral Home, 39 S. Miller Rd. in Fairlawn. Mass of Christian Burial 11a.m. Wednesday at St. Hilary Catholic Church. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Gifts in her memory may be made to the St. Hilary Parish Foundation.

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