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Josephine Dziuba was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 21, 1938, the eldest of two children born to Joseph and Stella (Drzal) Dziuba. Josephine was baptized on August 21, 1938, in the parish church of St. Stanislaus Kostka. She attended the parish grade school and, upon graduation, Bishop McDonnell High School. Shortly after graduating from Bishop McDonnell High School, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth on September 8, 1957. On August 18, 1958, she entered the novitiate receiving the name of Sister Virginella. Sister was chosen to spend her two-year novitiate in Albano, (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome. She pronounced her temporary vows on August 13, 1960, and returned to the United States to pursue her education. On August 10, 1966, she professed her perpetual vows and added the mystery “of Jesus” to her name.
Sister Virginella received her BA in Elementary Education and taught at Holy Cross School in Maspeth, New York, as well as a several schools in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and Monroe, CT. Then she pursued a degree in Nursing Home Administration and Gerontology at North Texas University in 1971 and cared for the retired and infirm Sisters at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Provincialate after graduating. After returning to the classroom temporarily to teach first grade, and serving as the Superior at Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent, Sister Virginella retired, remaining at the convent as a volunteer in the kitchen, receptionist desk, and as a driver for sisters needing transportation to their doctors.
What sustained Sister Virginella through all the good times and challenging times was her deep and intimate relationship with God – this was the very heart of her life. Family and friends will remember Sister Virginella for her beautiful smile, her excitement over the simple things in life, love of flowers and animals, her kind heart, and love of God, family, and Religious Community.
It was at 9:25 am on the morning of September 16, 2024, that Sister Virginella peacefully went to meet her God. May she rest in peace. To share your messages of remembrance, please visit our Message of Remembrance page. May she rest in peace.
