Virginia M. Palko

VIRGINIA M. PALKO (nee Toth) age 86, beloved wife for 59 years of the late Edward; loving mother of Christine (Michael) Costello, Nancy, Edward, and Mark (Michelle); devoted grandmother of Megan (Nick) Tango, Kristen (fiancé Paul) Costello, and Marissa, Makayla, and Jake Palko and great-grandmother of Logan and Emmy; cherished daughter of the late Louis and Helen (nee Harsanyi) Toth; dearest sister of the late Helen (Steve, deceased) Duzs.

Virginia was born on November 13, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in the Hungarian neighborhood of Buckeye Road. The customs and traditions she learned as a little girl, such as her ethnic dancing, were those she would treasure and continue to pass down to her children and grandchildren. Virginia became a licensed beautician out of high school and enjoyed styling her mother’s hair. On May 4, 1957, Virginia married her childhood sweetheart, Edward. Their love was evident from the very beginning when Virginia waited for her Navy Sailor to return home. The two were quite the pair and together they built a beautiful family of six. They went on many fun and countless vacations, especially the memorable trips to Florida, Virginia Beach, Alaska, and Hawaii. Although these journeys consisted of her, Edward, and their four children, if you ever heard the stories, you probably believed you were there too because she was simply the best storyteller. Coming from an ethnic background, she had so much to tell of the different customs and deep roots of their family history. Virginia was extremely devoted to her faith and was a longtime member of the Church of St. Clare. She loved serving as a Eucharistic Minister and cherished teaching PSR to her 4^th graders for nearly 35 years. She would make gifts for her students, as she was quite the crafter over the years. Virginia and her daughters enjoyed making pottery together. She also spent a lot of time gardening in her yard. She had an eye for flowers and a well-manicured yard. Holidays were always magical, from the immaculate Christmas decorations to the delicious apricot cookies & nut-roll, at every holiday dinner. Her stuffed cabbage & chicken paprikash were enjoyed by many. Virginia seemed to capture the essence of the seasons. To say she was a selfless woman would be an understatement. She truly lived for others. Not a day went by that she did not put her needs aside to worry about how her children and grandchildren were doing. On December 25, 2022, Virginia peacefully passed away with all her beloved children by her side. This beautiful, yet fun and spunky woman, brought so much life and joy to everyone around her, from her smile to her hilarious Hungarian phrases that sounded a lot like curse words, and for all of this she will be dearly missed. Virginia was brave and courageous to her last breath. A true warrior!

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Virginia to Our Lady of Lourdes National Shrine, 21281 Chardon Road, Euclid, OH 44117, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, December 31, 2022, at St. Clare Catholic Church, 5659 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124, at 10 AM.

Burial following at All Souls Cemetery.

Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Virginia at THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATIONS CENTER OF CHESTERLAND 12811 CHILLICOTHE ROAD (Rt. 306, just south of Mayfield Rd.) FRIDAY 3-7 PM.