Virginia Ramirez

VIRGINIA PONTI RAMIREZ

January 24, 1921 - December 31, 2009


Virginia Ponti Ramirez, 88, was called to be with her Lord and Savior on December 31, 2009. She died peacefully surrounded by her loving family.

The visitation and rosary will be on Thursday, January 7, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Oakcrest Funeral Home. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Louis Catholic Church on Friday, January 8, 2010 at 10:00 am with Father David Leibham as celebrant. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park followed by a reception at St. Mary's Parish Hall.

Virginia was born on January 24, 1921 in La Spezia, Italy to Alfredo and Ida Ponti. She grew up in Livorno, Italy with her grandmother, Virginia Ponti who operated a popular seaside resort before the war, and she was educated in Catholic school.

After World War II, she met Sgt. Manuel M. Ramirez at a USO dance of the American liberation of Italy. He would become the love of her life, and they were married seven months later. She then traveled from Italy all the way to Waco, Texas to be with her husband and start a family, and she soon became a proud American citizen.

Virginia, later known as Nina, was a kind, sweet, loving and very spiritual person who was loved by all who knew her. She was a long time member of St. Louis Catholic Church, and she sent all her children to Catholic school. She enjoyed life to the fullest by spending time with her family and her many pets.

She loved to cook, watch Wheel of Fortune, do crossword puzzles, attend performing arts events and share stories about her Italian heritage.

She devoted herself to daily prayer, and she attended Bible study every week. Every night before bedtime, she would have her coffee stating that she couldn't sleep without it.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents from Italy, her husband, Manuel M. Ramirez and her son, Michael A. Ramirez.

She is survived by her brother, Umberto Ponti and his family from Italy, her daughters, Sylvia L. Ramirez and Virginia I. Ramirez, her granddaughter, Elizabeth A. Scheifley and her husband, Steven L. Scheifley from Waco and her brother-in-law, Isaac Joe Ramirez from Round Rock. She also has numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces, nephews and friends.

Pallbearers will be Ronald Fitzpatrick, Timothy Flynn, Ralph Gonzalez, Richard Gonzalez, Jacob Martinez, Rodrigo Ramirez, Carlos Rivas, Steven Scheifley and Chris Traylor.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Daniel Aaron, Larry Fitzpatrick, Fermin Martinez, Mark Moore, Isaac Joe Ramirez, Joe Torres, Lloyd Williams, Charles Young and David Ray Young.

The family would like to thank Hillcrest Hospice and the staff at Crestview Nursing Home for their care and devotion to Nina. She will greatly be missed.

Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.oakcrestwaco.com.