SCHIMMOLLER , Virginia Elizabeth
Virginia Elizabeth Sachs Schimmoller (1933-2021) was born, raised and died in her beloved city of Pasadena, CA. Virginia made her debut at St. Luke’s Hospital on November 28, 1933. She was an early Thanksgiving blessing to her parents, Carl and Alberta Sachs. She was welcomed into the family by her brother, Carl, and sister, Lou-Ann. The Sachs family was completed four years later, with the birth of their brother Tom. The residence of 155 Annandale Road was a lively home.
Virginia enjoyed being a Pasadena native. She attended San Rafael Elementary School, St. Andrew’s High School (where she was student body president) and Immaculate Heart College. However, she did venture out of California to attend the University of Dayton (UD), in Ohio. It was at UD that the California Golden Girl, Virginia, met her Ohio Buckeye, Don Schimmoller.
The two became inseparable and on July 10, 1954, the two formed a more perfect union often, referred to as “Schimmollerville.” She celebrated her role as wife, rejoiced in being a mom, and treasured the title of Mema.
Intrinsic to Virginia was her Catholic identity and faith. She exemplified this in how she lived her life. She was a woman of service as seen in her efforts of selling bibles for the church, teaching marriage preparation and baptism classes, being retreat captain for the Sacred Heart Retreat House, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, teaching CCD, working as a religious education director, volunteering for the Right to Life League, being a member of the Christ Child Society of Pasadena and the Community of Passionist Partners of Mater Dolorosa. If she wasn’t at a church event, she was volunteering at one of the six Catholic schools her children attended.
Where your heart is so lies your treasure. Virginia treasured her husband, Don, and the gift of her eight children. She loved each one the most. She quickly realized with each child that love doesn’t divide but multiplies. Each grandchild was embedded in her heart, and she enjoyed every minute spent with them whether it be sliding down a slide, on a camping trip, cooking with them, celebrating unicorn night, but mostly attending Mass with them and sharing her
faith. Virginia’s hospitality was legendary, she made the house on San Pasqual Street a home. Anyone who knocked on her door was welcomed. Self-admittedly she was not the best housekeeper and would advise visitors to enter at their own risk. However, friends became family and there was no distinction between the two. Her mottos of “born to serve,” and “offer it up” were hallmarks of her life.
Virginia had an unbridled spirit of adventure, loved history, traveling, vacation and nature. She was known to have a picnic on the roof top. She never passed on an opportunity to go to a museum, into a new church or visit a mission. She passionately shared the importance of the past as she felt it was relevant to the now. All of God’s masterpieces in nature were appreciated especially the Ocean. Her travel highlights were trips to Israel and Italy, where the history of her faith was highlighted. A true Renaissance woman.
Perhaps the best description of Virginia, was provided by her mom, who said “Virginia is a woman of steel lined with fur,” gentle yet strong. Thank you, God for Virginia. Virginia is predeceased by parents Carl and Alberta Sachs, husband Don, son Donny, and brother Carl Sachs and brothers-in-law Richard Schaub and Richard Schimmoller. She is survived by her sister Lou-Ann Schaub, brother Tom (Carolyn) Sachs and sisters-in-law Marilyn Sachs and Gay Schimmoller; her children Elizabeth, Julia, John (Sarah), Mary, Katherine (Tim) O’Donnell, James (Maureen) and Virginia aka Ginna (Jason Weber); and her grandchildren Andrew, Ben (Jessica), Edward, Dan, Mary Beth (Caleb Reagor), Joey, Caroline, Kate, Joseph, Patrick and Caroline and honorary grandchildren Colleen and Katie Awad. She is further survived by many loved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Mater Dolorosa Retreat House, Pregnancy Help Center of San Gabriel Valley, Sacred Heart Retreat House (Alhambra) or St. Philip the Apostle School’s Blessed are the Children fund.
Visitation will be on Thursday, May 20th from 5:30p-7p at Cabot Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Pasadena with burial following at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Please visit Saint Philip the Apostle Parish YouTube Channel for live streaming access.