Virginia Ann Devine, mother of Mary Kay Devine and mother-in-law of Jason Coulter, died on January 25, 2022, at the age of 87. She had been in hospice care at Wesley Place for the past seven months but was able to enjoy time with her daughter and grandchildren before she passed.

Virginia was born in Hamilton, Ohio and was proud to be a "Buckeye" - a peanut butter/chocolate candy she made every year at Christmas that delighted all who tasted them. Virginia was the youngest of seven children who grew up in a devout Catholic family. She joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur when she was a young woman and served as a teacher in Catholic Schools in Ohio and Illinois. This group of Sisters are women with hearts as wide as the world – making known God's goodness and love with and among people living in poverty, through a Gospel way of life, community, prayer, and education.

Virginia fulfilled this mission throughout her almost 20 years as a Catholic nun and continued to pursue social justice and learning throughout her entire life. She was an early supporter of the civil rights movement of the sixties and a strong advocate for progressive changes in the Catholic church represented by Vatican II.

In 1975 Virginia was teaching at St. Peter Catholic Church in South Beloit when she met a handsome priest named Robert Devine. They fell in love, got married, and gave birth to their one and only "treasure from heaven" Mary Kay. Bob and Virginia established a delightful family home on Buttercup Lane in Rockford, Illinois where they lived for over 40 years.

Though Virginia had never imagined being a mother, she loved being the mom to Mary Kay. Being a former English teacher, she delighted in reading her stories, singing songs, and making sure she had good penmanship. Once Mary Kay started school, Virginia went to work at a real estate office, first as a secretary, and later as an agent herself. With her husband Bob, they were "The Devine Team!"

Virginia was a very creative woman and used her talents to bring joy to others. She was a prolific maker of personalized greeting cards and rarely missed a birthday, anniversary, or message of sympathy. Virginia loved to write poetry, work on needlepoint projects, sew clothes for herself, Mary Kay, and MK's Barbies, and she made a variety of crafts that she would occasionally sell at the church bazaar, but usually gave them away to friends and family as gifts. She was famous for her Christmas sweets. Every year, she made a variety of homemade treats, including buckeyes, fudge, toffee, caramels, pecan tarts, and of course, cookies.

Virginia was very active in her home parish of St. Rita's Catholic Church where she was a reader and communion server. She read the Rockford Register Star every day, cover to cover, and was a great booster of her adopted city of Rockford.

In 2016, Virginia and Bob moved into an assisted living facility in Chicago so that they could be closer to her family. She liked nothing better than being with her grandchildren. She marveled at all their antics and would laugh until she cried at their shenanigans. At St. Pauls House and later Covenant Home, Virginia was a real social butterfly, attending every activity and making many new friends.

Her final seven months were hard, but she received comfort from her visits with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, and would light up when the family would sing Broadway showtunes and other favorites from years gone by.  Virginia was at her core a sweet and affectionate soul. Her tender kindness will be missed by so many.

Virginia Devine (nee Vogt) was born on March 12, 1934, to Ferdinand Vogt and Stella (Bergedick) Vogt. She was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters, Ferdinand Vogt, Doris Schellenbach, Thomas Vogt, Patricia Becker, Martha Ketterer, and David Vogt. Her dear husband, Robert Francis Devine, died on September 27, 2019, so we're sure they're enjoying a heavenly happy reunion. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Kay Devine Coulter, her son-in-law, Rev. Jason W. Coulter, and four grandchildren, Lucille Coulter (17), Charles Coulter (14), Cecilia Coulter and Eleanor Coulter (8-year-old twins). She was beloved by her many nieces and nephews as the one and only Aunt Gina.

The family is hosting an online service to ensure friends and family from across the years and miles can join us to celebrate Virginia's life. To participate in the service on Saturday, February 5 at 10:30 am., please register at the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpdO2oqTstHNShcnAtprJR0feqN4PcJAXo .

** PLEASE CLICK ON THE WATCH VIDEO BUTTON ON THE VIRTUAL SERVICE INFORMATION to REGISTER**