Virginia M. Alward Spano Pacuraw

Virginia M. Alward Spano Pacuraw

Virginia M. "Ginger" Alward Spano Pacuraw, 86, of Erie, passed away Monday, December 11, 2017 at Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center. She was born April 27, 1931 in Erie, a daughter of the late Clayton L. Alward and Mabel C. Wright Alward Palmer.

Virginia was a graduate of Academy High School Class of 1948. She was employed by Dr Richard C. Lyons and Dr. John H. Petre for 17 years as their office manager, then worked at Battersby Chiropractic Clinic, and previously had worked at General Electric and Louis Marx Co.

Virginia was the Bereavement Coordinator and a Eucharistic Minister at St. Luke Church and worked at their rectory. She was also a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Vincent Health Center. Previously she had been a parishioner at St. Paul Church for 35 years and member of their St. Anthony Society. She was an associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of N.W. PA.

She was a member of several animal foundations, including The Humane Society of N.W. PA. She loved all animals, especially all the dogs and cats she had as her pets throughout her life.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul Spano; second husband Victor Pacuraw; brother, Albert L. Alward; sister, Agnes M. Young; step-father, Joseph Palmer; godson, Joseph Alacce; great-nephew, Trevor Eback; and her dog Molly.

She is survived by her daughter, Brenda L. Desser (Dale) of Erie; two grandchildren, Jennifer Desser -Neal (Duane) and Jeremy Desser (Tina Haley); 4 great-grandchildren, Ariel Desser, Isaac Neal, Sadie Lingenfelter and Austin Haley; and half-brother, Clayton Alward. Also survived by many nieces, nephew, great-nieces, great-nephews and seven godchildren.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and may attend a service there on Friday at 10 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Luke Church, 421 East 38th Street, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of N.W. PA, 2407 Zimmerly Road, Erie, PA 16506.