Obituary of Virginia Elizabeth Lester

With great sorrow and with gratitude for her shining example of a life well-lived, we mourn the passing of our dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Virginia Elizabeth Lester, who died on Sunday, May 2, 2021. Born April 23, 1925, in St. Louis, Missouri, to James Thomas Flannigan and Alta Williams Flannigan, Virginia leaves behind 8 children, 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. We know that right now Virginia is joyfully reuniting with her dear husband James Wilson Lester, with whom she shared nearly 56 years of marriage, and who died in 2002.

The granddaughter of Irish immigrants, Virginia was also a child of the Great Depression. Her father worked in a hat factory and though she owned only one dress and was destined to attend her neighborhood Catholic High School, she earned a scholarship to attend St. Joseph’s Academy, an exclusive all-girls’ school, from which she graduated with honors. A lifelong learner, Virginia was always studying or asking questions about something, curious about whatever her children or grandchildren were learning. She was blessed with a nimble mind and an incredible memory, along with a vibrant sense of humor, which she exercised until her last days. With children and grandchildren scattered all across the country, Virginia loved to travel and to visit each of her progeny until a few years ago when she could no longer travel. She wanted to see people in their own settings, to understand them and to feel a part of their lives.

Virginia met her future husband James at a USO dance in 1943. They married in 1946 were separated only upon James’ death. They raised eight children together, providing a secure and loving home for us all and showing us the beauty of a sweet relationship between people who were unquestionably committed to each other.

Virginia could cook and sew and she ran a tight ship at home, teaching all her children how to help keep the household running smoothly and cheerfully. She loved to dance and wanted her children to share her love of music. For many years, Virginia prepared three homemade meals for 10 hungry family members every day on a limited grocery budget. She had a can-do attitude, never allowing the word “can’t” to enter her vocabulary. She was a no-nonsense fixer, rarely idle, a hard worker who believed in the virtue of a busy and productive life. Virginia loved nothing more than to help out wherever she saw a need.

Our mother walked the talk, devoting almost half of her income to charity in her later years, especially to Catholic organizations such as Reachout, Catholic Charities and the missions. Her deep and abiding faith, her devotion to a life of prayer and her hope for a better life will continue to inspire all whose lives she has touched. We are grateful for the kindness of her friends, caregivers, nurses and doctors, especially Sister Pat, who lightened her burden of suffering at the end and brought a smile to her face with each of her visits.