Virginia C. Owen passed away peacefully in her sleep on Christmas evening. She was born Virginia Carolina Porcelli August 7, 1924 to Italian parents and raised in Manhattan and Harrison NY. She graduated Harrison High School and attended Westchester School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1945. Virginia spent her entire 40 year career at Grasslands Hospital and Westchester Medical Center working in various services and clinics including the tuberculosis unit at Grasslands where as a young nurse, she herself contracted TB, requiring many months of hospitalization.
In March 1945, Virginia married John Alan Owen of Newtown, Wales at St. Gregory’s Church in Harrison. John was volunteering at the hospital while on leave from the Royal Air Force during WWII. John then returned to Wales to complete his military service before moving to Westchester County with Virginia to begin their life together. They had 7 children, 6 of whom survive: John Owen of Cassleberry, Florida, Steven Owen of White Plains, NY, Virginia Owen McDonald of Alpharetta, GA, Maria Torregrossa of Carmel, NY, Patricia Carbone of Hartsdale, NY and David Owen of Elmsford, NY. She was predeceased by her son Gerard in 1994 and her husband John in 2003. She was the loving grandmother of 17 and great grandmother of 13. She was predeceased by all of her siblings: Edward Porcelli, Vincent Porcelli, Arthur Porcelli, Marion Porcelli, Julia Moran and Benedetta MacCarthy.
Virginia and John settled in Elmsford, NY in 1952. Virginia was very active in her community as a Girl Scout leader and a participant in nursing alumni activities and senior activities at Fairview and Sleepy Hollow Senior citizens. She was always ready to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. She was a devout Catholic and participated in the Rosary Society and the choir at Mt. Carmel in Elmsford, the church she attended throughout her life. Virginia loved to attend social activities and made everyone around her comfortable with her conversation and laughter. After her retirement, she traveled the world with her husband.
Virginia was an avid Yankees and Rangers fan and she enjoyed attending any sports activity that her children and grandchildren were involved in. She was often the most vocal supporter in the stands if one of her family members was playing. Lottery tickets were a daily event and trips to the casino with family were a highlight for her. She was an accomplished artist and often presented her children and grandchildren with personal portraits of themselves or with beautiful scenes from fairy tales.
Virginia brought a special light into the room and into our lives and she will be missed by all of her family and friends.
Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 2, 2015 from 2-4 & 7-9pm at Beecher Flooks Funeral Home, Inc., Pleasantville. Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015 at 10am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Elmsford. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Hearthstone Alzheimer’s care, 95 So. Broadway, White Plains, NY, 10601 or Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, 59 East Main St., Elmsford, NY, 10532.