Virginia R. Erickson, 88, formerly of 138 South Broad Street, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 16, 2010 at the Gilmour Nursing Home.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan on October 13, 1921, Virginia was the daughter of Claude and Susan (Shelly) Perrault. She graduated from Hazel Park High School, Hazel Park, MI with the Class of 1940. She worked at the Burroughs Corporation in Detroit, MI, a company that built intercontinental ballistic missiles for the United States government. While working there, she attended the Detroit Business Institute and then worked her way up at Burroughs to Secretary to the Vice President where she remained for twenty-one years.
On May 5, 1962, in Troy, MI, Virginia married Andrew G. “Andy” Erickson who died on May 6, 2002. Following their marriage, Virginia and Andy moved to South New Berlin and helped on the family farm. Virginia worked as secretary to the Superintendent of the South New Berlin Schools for sixteen years, retiring in 1982 to care for her mother in Michigan. After moving to Norwich, Virginia was a volunteer with the Chenango Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Ladies of Charity and also gave her time to St. Paul’s Church and worked as a secretary at Holy Family School.
Virginia is survived by a sister, Charlotte LeRoy in South Bend, Indiana, her “adopted” family, Margaret and Art Boice and children and several nieces and nephews including Steve Pearo, who was very special to Virginia and Andy. She was predeceased by a brother, Harry Pearo.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Virginia will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at St. Paul’s Church. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in South New Berlin. There will be no calling hours.
In recognition of the exceptional care received, contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes Street, Norwich , NY 13815.
The arrangements are by the Wilson Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.
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Virginia took very care of all of the teachers and children while volunteering in the office at Msgr. Festa Middle School. Every day she would watch out the window for me to see if I needed assistance into the building that day. Part of my job entailed transporting supplies back and forth and she was always ready to lend a helping hand when mine were full. She always had an inspirational antidote for us when the day got long and was a true friend to the school. With much love and prayers, Valerie Dragoon
I got to know Virginia when she was the secretary at Monsignor Festa Middle school, at St. Bart’s. I cannot say enough good about Virginia. She was always willing to help in anyway she could. In my chats with VIrginia I discovered her Michigan roots. My father was born on the same town as her mother, Bad Axe Michigan. After I went on to teach at the Norwich Campus of Morrisville, Virginia and I continued to be friends. She loved music. She came over to my town, Sidney, to my daughters’ recital and once we went to Ithaca College to my son’s concert.
The other connection Mrs. Erickson and myself had was my former neighbor Betty Gray moved to Norwich to be closer to her son and rented an apartment in Virginia’s house. I’ll miss her terrible. Gaby Pysnik
My sympathies to the family. When I was younger I lived just down the road from Andy and Virginia. Many afternoons I would go up to their “chicken farm” and watch as Andy collected and sorted the eggs. Virginia always had something cold for us to drink. She was the sweetest lady and will be greatly missed.
Our sympathy to Virginia’s family and friends. My husband and I were co-workers with Virginia at South New Berlin Central School for most of her 16 years there. Virginia ran a tight ship and kept the operation of the main office running smoothly. She was very helpful to all, be it faculty, staff or student. If you needed anything, just ask Virginia and she would see that it was done. Ken and I played many games of cards with Virginia and Andy….a wonderful couple. In school all business…outside of school, warm, friendly and a great hostess. Great memories of her and Andy. Ken & Mary Lee Meyers
To Virginia’s family, close friends, and the Boice family:
Troy and I are so sorry for the loss you are all feeling . We were very fond of Virginia, and have such good memories of her. We chaperoned a senior trip to Myrtle Beach one year and she and Andy treated us to “getaway” time at their house!! In later years, we would snicker about that…….Virginia was such a source of information, and created a stability at the South New Berlin School System. She was all business in school, but was such a sweet and friendly lady when you visited with her, which I was able to do for a few years when she lived around the corner from my own mother’s home in Norwich. She was gritty and strong and enjoyed her life with Andy.
I know you will miss her, but will have wonderful memories of your times with her.
I’ll never forget that first summer I spent on the chicken farm – somewhere about 1963. Uncle Andy let me (made me) help him shovel the chicken droppings out of the hen house – an annual event. It took all day and produced quite a mound of chicken poo on the ground at one end of the hen house. When told to clean up for dinner I hastly ran though the hen house … became disoriented and jumped out of the second story barn door onto … what I thought was a conveniently locted dirt pile. While drifting through the air, and just before I landed, I had my first ephiphany at 8 years old — Oh my gosh … this isn’t a dirt mound! IT’s THE CHICKEN sh..!
Well, up to my chest I sunk. And of course out Aunt Gin marched. It was clear she was not happy but even the IronClad Virginia Erickson couldnt keep a straight face. She would admonish me then start cracking-up. She would tell me to “get out of there” … and of course I could hardly move an inch. She handed me a broomstick with which I could kinda pull and wiggle myself out … but to no avail – all the while watching the tears of laughter poor from her face. Of couse she wouldn’t laugh … but I new she was totally unglued on the inside. I’ve never seen someone so mad and yet laughing so histerically inside at the same time.
Finally, Virginia escorted me … at a distance and with her nose pinched up to the pond where I was instructed to enter, de-clothe and clean up! Then and ONLY then could I think about making my way to the dinner table. I feared the worst … maybe bread and water … but somehow a cherry cream cheese pie made it to the table for desert. Dear Aunt Virginia. For being such a tough nut on the outside, she sure was a softie on the inside!
45 years later and I still can’t pass a chicken farm without those fond memories.
The years of memories from South New Berlin School are all endeared with memories of this wonderful woman. Although she was stern and businesslike, she was one of the most compassionate and caring people that ever lived.
When my family’s home burned in January of 1979, her wonderful and shining love for people showed through. I was just a child of the 7th grade at that time and had never really experienced the type of pain that losing the only home you had ever known could bring. She and Fred Hall were instrumental in the notification process and in doing everything that could be done to help my Sister, Brother and I understand the things that we were about to experience in the aftermath. Virginia and her Husband Andy were one of the first contacts that we had from the community with help for clothing and food to supplement our loss and we are forever grateful to them and the St Paul’s Catholic Church family for their help and support during that time.
I, personally, will always remember that resounding voice over the public address. I will always cherish the fact that I knew this truly wonderful woman and feel that the loss of her from her body can never quell the spirit and soul that she was. Thank you Virginia for making my experience as a student more successful and for the wonderful things that you did for all of us.
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