Virginia Regan

VIRGINIA A. REGAN

Cedar Rapids

Virginia A. Regan died at Mercy Hallmar on Dec. 29, 2017, in Cedar Rapids at the age of 91. She had been a resident of Hallmar for two years. A visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

at St. Matthew Catholic Church, located at 2310 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. The visitation will immediately

be followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment will

be at Mount Calvary Ceme-tery. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.

Virginia is survived by her children, Brian of Evanston, Ill., Kathy (Herb) Schmidt of West Burlington, Iowa, and Joe of Chicago; her granddaughters, Katie and Annie Schmidt, also of West Burlington; and sisters-in-law, Kay (Jon) McWhinney and Jane Regan.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a grandson, Nicholas Schmidt. The youngest of 13 children, Virginia was preceded in death by six sisters and six brothers, Sister Brideen, R.S.M., Mary, Gertrude, Josephine, Dorothy, Kathleen, Laurence, Edward, Alfred, James, Richard and Raymond. Virginia also was preceded in death by her close friends, Connie Conway, Barbara Moore and Sister Irene DeMeulenaere, O.L.V.M.

Born May 9, 1926, Virginia was the daughter of James and Sarah (Burns) McDonnell. On June 5, 1954, she married James E. Regan. He died Dec. 1, 1979.

Virginia graduated magna cum laude from Mount Mercy College in 1945 and was a lifelong supporter of education. Virginia worked as an executive assistant to the president of Borden's Ice Cream until leaving her career when she began her family with James.

Virginia was devoted to her beloved husband, her children, her grandchildren and to her extended family. She was especially close to her sisters and enjoyed going on many trips with them.

Virginia was devoutly Catholic and was a member of St. Matthew's Church, St. Theresa's Prayer Circle and an associate of the Sisters of Mercy. She believed in the power of prayer and spent hours each day praying for those in need. Her faith also was active as she volunteered to help cancer patients survive the disease as she had done, assisted many individuals who were handicapped and often visited the sick.

She was particularly proud of her Irish heritage and traveled to Ireland with her dear friend, Liz Valliere, with whom she celebrated St. Patrick's Day each year, along with their many friends. Virginia also enjoyed following the Fighting Irish and attended many of Notre Dame's football games.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Mercy University, Mercy Hallmar or to your favorite charity.

The Regan family would like to thank the staff of Hallmar and Hospice of Mercy, who provided excellent care for Virginia during her last years.

Please share your support and memories with Virginia's family on her tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.