October 22, 1920 – February 16, 2004
By Sister Elaine Osborne OP
Our Associate Virginia Jarmer was born in St. Marks, Kansas. She had lived in Great Bend since 1976, having moved here from Fowler, Kansas, in 1976. She was a close friend of and relative by marriage to the Klein sisters.
Virginia was a retired licensed practical nurse and hospital dietary specialist for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Wichita where she had been a former member for 30 years.
The ministries and civic services Virginia was a part of form a long list. She ministered with loving care for four husbands who all preceded her in death. She was a member of St. Patrick Church in Great Bend, and also the Daughters of Isabella and Altar Society. In recent years she was often in our infirmary balcony, helping with the sisters there during Mass or other services. She had even given years of touching concern in direct ministry to our sisters in the infirmary.
Always involved in the civic community, Virginia was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and past president for Ladies Auxiliary FOE. She had been a teacher in the Reach Program for more than 12 years and was a volunteer for Fort Hays State University Senior Companion Program. She was also a “Grand Friend” to two students at Holy Family School in Great Bend.
Virginia enjoyed her step-children and grandchildren immensely as evidenced by the many pictures on display at the funeral home. Her care and concern for other people and her delight in celebrating special days with them were clear to those who knew her and worked with her. Obvious, too, was the seriousness with which she took her spiritual life. She was involved in Associate study groups consistently. She took great care to recycle in her care for God’s Earth. Probably most memorable was the attitude of gratefulness that filled her interactions with others. We will indeed miss her pleasant smile and greeting.
