Virginia Stasium, SSND
May 27, 1946 – November 29, 2025
Virginia Marie Stasium came into this world on May 27, 1946. Her parents, Mary Agnes O’Connell and Vincent Stasium, were eager to have a baby girl join her three older brothers. Eventually, three more girls joined the family. Virginia was baptized at St. Peter, Cambridge, where she received her First Communion and made her Confirmation. She attended the parish grade and high school, where she met the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
The teaching and inspiration of the sisters planted an intimate love for Christ in Virginia’s heart and would eventually prompt her to enter the SSNDs. On September 9, 1964, Virginia entered the candidature in Wilton, Connecticut. She eagerly anticipated novitiate where she could deepen her relationship with Christ. At her reception, Virginia chose the religious name Mary Luke. Her First Profession was on July 18, 1966.
Virginia’s class “stayed in” at Notre Dame of Wilton to work toward a college degree. Virginia achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and later graduated from St. John’s University with a Master of Arts in Theology. She also studied at Catholic University. Virginia’s first teaching experience was in San Augustin, Puerto Rico. Students at St. Joseph High, Trumbull, Ct., and Holy Angels in Demarest, N.J. benefitted from her skill at offering knowledge packaged in humor.
Years spent in administering the St. Mary’s Solitude Retreat House in South Bend, Indiana, and the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, provided Virginia with opportunities to share her commitment to the spiritual life. Through her leadership as Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, countless people came to know Christ.
Virginia was diagnosed with a debilitating disease that limited her mobility but not her spirit of mission. She served as Local Leader for sisters at Notre Dame Convent in Waterdown, Ontario. She became a role model for the senior sisters there. Hearing of Virginia’s death, one sister recalled. “She had a way of making you feel like you were one of her people”. There was not one staff member with whom she did not connect. Virginia knew everyone by name, even the night shift people who recalled seeing her wheel down the halls in the wee hours.
Virginia’s resilience in the face of adversity and pain was astonishing. As her independence diminished, she maintained an attitude of compassion for others and a sense of humor sprinkled with sarcasm. Virginia’s bodily limitations ceased when she met her life’s love, Jesus, on November 29th, 2025.
Virginia’s sisters, Roberta, Barbara, and Tina, represented the family at her funeral on December 9, 2025. Sister Kathleen Cornell led the prayer service that preceded Mass at St. Andrew Church in Bridgeport. Virginia’s classmates, Sisters Kathy Vaselli and Donna Irvine, read. The Mass of Resurrection was celebrated by Msgr. Crofit. Sister John Vianney offered the homily with the theme, “I am with you always.” Sisters Eileen Shea and Teresa Lamy proclaimed the readings, and Katherine Lawless led the Intercessions. Virginia was laid to rest with our sisters at St. Mary Cemetery, Bethel.
By Cathy Feeney, SSND
