Mrs. Virginia M. Biegel, 90, of LaPorte, died peacefully Friday morning, Dec. 20, 2013.
She was born Nov. 29, 1923, in LaPorte to Leo and Elizabeth (Wagner) Minich.
Virginia retired from F.W. Woolworth after having been employed by the company in LaPorte and in Illinois. She had many heartfelt stories to tell about herself and “the girls” who worked there. Virginia was an active member of the Rosary Altar of St. Christopher Church in Midlothian, IL. She volunteered her time there as well, pressing altar garments, rolling bandages for the sick and helping out at school. The priests of St. Christopher often showed up on Virginia’s doorstep on Saturday afternoons to sample one or two of the delectable pies they knew she would be baking that day. She was happiest when family and friends gathered at her table to visit over one of her delicious meals.
She and her husband Pete took up square dancing; they met monthly with their basement group, traveled with the square dance organizations and performed at McCormick Place in Chicago. After both Virginia and Pete retired, they moved back to LaPorte, where they enjoyed the company of her many relatives who reside there. She was so proud to tell people she met in town that she was a “Minich.” During her retirement she became a member and an active volunteer at St. Joseph Catholic Church and LaPorte Hospital.
Virginia was joined by numerous family and friends to celebrate her 90th birthday on Nov. 29, 2013.
On Sept. 28, 1946, in LaPorte, she married Peter U. Biegel, who preceded her in death on June 1, 2006. She and Pete were blessed with five children and an abundance of friends.
She is survived by two daughters, Sylvia (Ken) Lubinski of Niles, IL, and Elizabeth (Jim) Anderson of Tinley Park, IL; two sons, Pete (Alice) Biegel of Sarasota, FL, and John (Dana) Biegel of Huntington Beach, CA; 13 grandchildren, Kevin (Tricia) Biegel, Nicole (Brendan) Mahon, Robert (Meghan) Biegel, Ryan Biegel, Ken (Phyllis) Lubinski, Jim Lubinski, John (Jill) Lubinski, Anthony Biegel, Donna Biegel, Nolan Biegel, Breanna Anderson, Sean Anderson, and Lauren Anderson; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard (Jackie) Minich and Thomas Minich, both of LaPorte; four sisters, Mary Biegel of Brookfield, MO, Rosemary DeWolf and Helen (Bill) Wandell, both of LaPorte, and Sister Helen Minich of Mishawaka, IN; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; one son, James Joseph Biegel; and three brothers, Andrew, Robert and Leonard Minich.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Eduardo Malagon officiating. Visitation will be at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Thursday, Dec. 26, from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held Thursday at 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow the Mass in St. Joseph Cemetery, LaPorte.
Memorial contributions may be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or The Alzheimers Association, 922 E. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46601.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.