Obituary for Virginia Elliott Reitano Virginia Elliott Reitano, aged 82, died May 26, 2018 in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina. Virginia was a devoted wife for 60 years to Arthur Reitano and a revered mother and grandmother. Virginia was born April 27, 1936 in the Bronx in New York City, NY.
She lived her life with the same intelligence and grace shown to her by her extraordinary parents, Paul and Katherine Alfieri. Paul was a Combat Intelligence Officer during World War II in Italy, and was awarded the Legion of Merit Award for his outstanding service and successful reconnaissance missions. Virginia and her brother, Paul, lived with their parents during this time in Genoa while she also attended boarding school at Marymount in Rome.
Her mother Katherine was her husband’s equally formidable partner, an educated woman defying odds to secure work for herself at a time when women weren’t allowed to work. Virginia studied at Aquinas High School in the Bronx, where she was Valedictorian, Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY, and Hunter College, NY where she graduated in 1957. A tireless worker and deeply spiritual person, Virginia’s charity knew no boundaries.
For decades, she devoted her time, energy and empathy in works that served her family, community and church. She worked for 18 years as a school librarian. She volunteered at Birthright in Georgetown, SC and was an active parishioner at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church.
Never one to be idle, Virginia was an active member at Heritage Plantation where she loved playing Bridge with friends, read voraciously and solved crosswords masterfully. Her calm composure, sharp wit and unlimited knowledge was a peaceful presence in everyone’s lives and she will be a tremendous loss to so many. Virginia is survived by her adoring husband, Arthur, with whom she shared a full, vibrant life and family, and their adventures and residences spanned from the Bronx, to Brewster, NY, to Roswell, GA, to St. Petersburg, FL, to Cary, IL, and to Pawley’s Island, SC.
She is also survived by her children, Arthur Reitano, Jr., of Chicago, IL, Mary Jacobellis and her husband, Jim, of Fountain Hills, AZ, Suzanne Burchill and her husband Mark, of Southport, CT, Paul Reitano and his partner Cheryl Christie, of Georgetown, SC, and John Reitano and his wife Melissa, of San Rafael, CA; and by her grandchildren, Kathryn and Josee Jacobellis, Blake and Graham Burchill, and Lucy and George Reitano. She is predeceased by her brother, Paul Alfieri, and by her grandson, Jack Dunn Reitano. A perpetual teacher and scholar, Virginia wrote often to her family and friends, sharing with them thoughts, articles, quotes and passages that might brighten their day or lift them up when needed.
As she wrote recently in her own diary, “The past is memory and the future is a dream. All we truly possess is the moment. That should be our passion, our obsession and our treasure”.
A celebration of Virginia’s life will take place on August 1, 2018 at 10am at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church in Pawley’s Island, SC. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Birthright of Georgetown: P.O. Box 3455, Pawley’s Island, SC 29585. Sign an online guestbook at www.
goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Virginia Elliott Reitano please visit our Sympathy Store.
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