July 5, 1931 — June 3, 2024
Sister Mary Virginia Sztorc, formerly Sister Mary Annuntiata, 92, died in Mother of Good Counsel Convent, Chicago, Illinois, after 71 years in religious life.
Sister Mary Virginia was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 5, 1931, second child of Joseph and Estelle Sztorc. At her Baptism in St. Wenceslaus Church on July 12, 1931, she was given the name Virginia.
Virginia graduated from St. Wenceslaus Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois on June 14, 1945. She then started working at Valentine’s Pastry Shop the day before eighth grade graduation and worked there all through high school. After graduating from Cardinal Stritch High School, she enrolled at DePaul Physical Education School. She dropped out after one year and went to work at RR Street and Co., a major cleaning establishment near Union Station for two years. During this time, she remained active at St. Wenceslaus Parish and stayed connected with the Felician Sisters who were very influential in her life at that time.
On September 15, 1952, Virginia entered the Postulancy of the Felician Sisters and the following year she was given the religious name of Sister Mary Annuntiata at her Investiture on August 6, 1953. Her Final Profession took place on August 15, 1960. Several years later, she changed her name to Sister Mary Virginia.
After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from De Paul University, Sister Mary Virginia had a multitude of Chicago teaching assignments. She always enjoyed the challenge of working with students. She attended Chicago State University where she received a Master’s degree in Library Science. Later, she ministered as a librarian and teacher in both elementary and high schools in Illinois and Minnesota. She was one of the founding sisters who formed the Felician Library Services, a group that provided expertise in improving the quality of library services in Felician staffed schools.
From 1981-1985, Sister Mary Virginia worked in the Archives in Rome, and then again from 2004-2010, she assisted the General Secretary and was designated as the Local Minister.
During her time in Rome, Sister Mary Virginia was able to visit several major sites. She became comfortable acting as a tour guide for many Felician Sisters who visited Rome. She had several audiences with the popes and spoke personally with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
