CANFIELD - Virginia Marie Hritz Petretich, 60, passed away peacefully at her home with close family at her side late Sunday evening, Oct. 25, 2009, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born Feb. 28, 1949, in Youngstown, a daughter of Joseph and Agnes Oravec Hritz, and grew up on Manor Avenue in Struthers/Poland.
She graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1967, and obtained a bachelor's degree in social work in 1973 from Youngstown State University. Virginia was employed by the state of Ohio at the Youngstown Developmental Center, where she served the families of those with developmental disabilities until the onset of her illness in 2003.
She was married to Frank Petretich on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1973. Frank and Ginny lovingly raised two children, Jaime (Stephen) Pontius of Austintown and John (Mara) Petretich of Fayetteville, W.Va. She leaves four grandchildren, Catherine and Stephen Pontius and Kyle and Brin Nickolas; a brother, Terrence (Dorothy) Hritz of Struthers; and sister-in-law, Karen (Louis) Cannatti, whom Virginia had always considered the sister she never had. She also leaves a niece, Nancy Hritz of Boardman; nephews, Joseph Hritz of Boardman and Michael Cannatti of Youngstown, and many cousins and close friends.
She was a longtime devoted member of St. Michael's Parish in Canfield, where she served as a eucharistic minister. She was a committee member for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Bowl-a-thon held annually in Warren to raise money for research and awareness. She was also a member of the Jednota Women's Lodge in Struthers and the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 66 in Youngstown. She annually volunteered her time for the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, and other illness related charities.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her in-laws, Frank and Ann Petretich; brothers-in-law, John and Joseph Petretich; and several aunts and uncles.
Virginia touched countless lives with her empathy, love and quiet grace, and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Hospice of the Valley for their compassionate care of Virginia at the Hospice House, and through visits to the family home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Canfield, where calling hours will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and also one hour prior to services Friday.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, in memory of Virginia.
Vaschak-Kirila Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
To view this obituary or to send condolences to the family, visit www.vaschak-kirilafh.com.
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