Virginia Anne Fannin, CSJ
August 7, 1929 - January 14, 2026
Hardworking, adaptable, open
“I would like to just start by saying the Lord has been good to me. He has blessed me with many friends who have been with me, and {whom} I lived with throughout my life.” - — Sister Virginia Anne Fannin at the beginning of her oral history recording
Virgil and Anna (Burns) Fannin, of Chicago welcomed their daughter, Mary Patricia, on August 7,1929. She grew up with her three brothers. She mentioned that her father had entered a seminary in Kentucky, preparing to become a minister, and her mother had entered the Sisters of St. Joseph but returned home to care for her younger sister when their mother died. Mary Patricia knew only one of her grandparents, her dad’s father, an American Indian. Her grandmother was from England, and her mother’s parents were from Ireland.
Mary Patricia attended Nativity of Our Lord School in Chicago, staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Deciding she wanted to become a sister, she remembered praying to St. Joseph, “If you want me there at Carondelet, get me there.” She entered the community on September 15, 1948. She also remembered praying to St. Joseph, “Well, you got me here, keep me here.” She received the habit and the name Sister Virginia Anne on March 19, 1949.
S. Virginia Anne taught primary students throughout her teaching ministry. She was sent to Hawai'i in 1957, where she ministered at St. Joseph, Waipahu, Oahu; Christ the King, Maui (1959); St. Anthony, Kailua, Oahu (1960); St. Teresa, Honolulu (1962); and Christ the King, Maui (1965). Returning from Hawai'i in 1966, she taught at St. Viator, Chicago; St. Cecilia, Peoria, Illinois (1967), and St. Matthew in Mobile, Alabama (1968).
Ending her teaching ministry in 1969, S. Virginia Anne began doing clerical work at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1971, she studied at the Research Medical Hospital there and earned a certificate as an accredited record technician. Later that same year, she took an exam for national certification for medical records technicians. In 1972, she took a position as a medical records technician at St. Joseph Hospital in Hancock, Michigan, as the head of the department. She went back to St. Joseph Hospital, in 1976, continuing her medical records ministry.
In 1978, S. Virginia Anne returned to Chicago, and served as receptionist at the De Paul University School of Nursing. Beginning in 1979 until July of 2000, she ministered at St. Viator School in various capacities: religious education, CCD, librarian and parish sacristan. From 2000 to 2003, she served at Nativity of Our Lord Parish and its school, Bridgeport Catholic Academy, as a receptionist and volunteer librarian and tutor.
In February 2003, S. Virginia Anne moved to Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis to join the sisters in the ministry of prayer and presence. She was delighted to also accept the position of sacristan.
MEMORIES
From Associate Patrick McDowell
S. Virginia was always eager to attend Mass, and she was usually one of the last people to leave the Nazareth Chapel. She always said "thank you" to express her appreciation to everyone who helped her. She was a very gentle person with a positive attitude and outlook on life.
By Sister Helen Oates