Virginia Carmel Pirillo Obituary (1920

Virginia C. Pirillo, 94, of Oelwein, Iowa died Friday afternoon, April 10, 2015 at Unity Point - Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein with Rev. Paul C. McManus and Deacon Jim Patera officiating. Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein. Catholic Daughters of the Americas Rosary: 4:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Parish Scripture Service: 6:45 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com Virginia Carmel Leo was born July 23, 1920 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Peter Anthony and Mary Dora (Lombardi) Leo. Her father came to St. Paul, Minnesota from Terravecchia, Italy in 1905 and her mother was born in Chicago, Illinois. She worked for Montgomery Ward Company from the time she finished school until July 19, 1969 when she was united in marriage to Louis John Pirillo at St. Ambrose Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. She then moved to Oelwein to begin married life. Virginia went to work in the Lou Pirillo Realtors and Insurance Firm and worked there until 1988, when the business was sold and they retired. She enjoyed doing volunteer work at Grandview Nursing Home, Oelwein Health Care Center and also at Mercy Hospital where she formerly was the coordinator for the gift shop. In her other spare time, she was a good homemaker and enjoyed cooking, baking and traveling with her husband. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Most recently Virginia resided at Arlington Place Assisted Living in Oelwein. She is survived by her daughter, Luann Pirillo of Laguna Beach, California; son, John Pirillo of Henderson, Nevada; daughter, Emily Pirillo Cowdrick (Bob) of Lilburn, Georgia; five grandchildren, Angela Pirillo Guerena (Eric) of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Kara Cowdrick of Lilburn, Georgia, Katie Pirillo of San Diego, California, Mia Pirillo of Arcata, California and Kyle Cowdrick of South Bend, Indiana; 3 sisters-in-law, Ann Leo of St. Paul, Minnesota, Dorothy Leo of St. Paul, Minnesota and Jan Pirillo (Duane Avery) of Oelwein; several nieces and nephews; and friend/caregiver Kim Lawless of Oelwein. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband on March 24, 2014; and 2 brothers, Albert Charles Leo and James Eugene Leo.