Sister Virginia Petty

Sister Virginia, formerly Sister Mary Virginia, was born Virginia Ruth Petty on Dec. 13, 1913. She died on June 8, 2005. She was 91 years old and had been a Sister of Providence for 69 years.

Sister Virginia entered the Congregation on Sept. 24, 1935. She professed first and final vows on Aug. 15, 1938 and 1944, respectively.

She began her teaching ministry in 1938 at St. Elisabeth, Van Nuys, Calif. She taught in other schools in California, as well as schools in Illinois, Indiana and Washington, D.C. From 1967 to 1988, Sister Virginia taught at El Segundo High School in California before retiring in 1988. She returned home to the Woods in 1990.

She was a fan of composer and pianist Scott Joplin.