Virginia J. Potrzebowski

Virginia (Chmielowicz) Potrzebowski, 86, passed away on Monday, November 24, 2008. She was born in Toledo, OH, in the Polish Village and was the youngest of ten children, born to immigrant parents. John and Salome Chmielowicz. She attended St. Hedwig Elementary School and graduated from Woodward High School. Virginia attended Davis Business College and her first employment was office work at the Toledo Chevrolet Plant on Central Avenue. She then worked for Champion Spark Plug Company and for seventeen years she was employed at Villa North Manor. Virginia was a member of the Police Post 512, American Legion Aux., Toledo Police Retirees Association Aux., and the Fraternal Order of Police Aux. Virginia married John Potrzebowski, on September 24, 1943, in the Army Chapel at the Souix Falls, SD Radio School. She and her family were long time members of St. Catherine of Siena, before moving to Erie, MI, in the late 1970's. Virginia became part of the Erie community and found contentment there. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. After suffering a stroke in 1991, which left her paralyzed and unable to speak, she became a wonderful example to her family and all who knew her, of how life could be lived with dignity, grace and joy. Her older grandchildren will remember her as a fun-loving person who enjoyed a good party and playing games with them, especially poker. Her younger grandchildren and great-grandchildren, will remember her as a sweet woman with a ready smile and gentle touch. They all will remember the delight she got from giving them the dollar bills she kept at her side, just for them. She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving and devoted husband, John Potrzebowski; daughters, Mary Jo (the late Michael) McMillan, Anne (Robert) Hankenhof, Denise (Eamon) Keaveny, Julie McDowell; sons, Mark (Sandra) Potrzebowski and Jeffrey (Laurie) Potrzebowski. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank Keseera, Shawna, Jaynie, Diane and Jamila, at the Sunrise Center and Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Friends are invited to visit from 4-8 p.m. Friday, in the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, (between Secor and Douglas Roads). Prayers will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, from the funeral home, followed by the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m., in Christ the King Catholic Church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.