Virginia Lucy Schulz

Lover of rocks, shells, flowers, black holes, and all things sparkling and celestial, Virginia Lucy Schulz was born October 24, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York, to Anna Weinschreider and Stanley Serbent. Her sister Carolyn followed six years later. They grew up in a time of deliveries of milk and ice for the ice box, stickball in the streets, and trolley rides into the city. Virginia spoke only Lithuanian and Polish until starting school, when she refused to speak anything but English. Her mind was curious, lively, and sharp, winning her scholarships to Bishop McDonnell High School and Nazareth College to study nursing. Ginny was raised Catholic, and her love of God was so great she thought she might become a nun. Then she took a philosophy class and decided that bringing children into the world would be the most meaningful vocation. Plus, she had met the handsome Robert Jay Schulz and fell deeply in love. The couple began dating when Ginny was just a teenager, courted through college, and married after graduation. Virginia was a proud Naval wife, and loved Robert completely, with her whole heart, soul, and being. They cared for each other with grace for more than six decades. The couple had six children in eight years: Danielle, Michael, Elizabeth, Paul, Sharon, and Eric. Mom taught her children to appreciate the simple things in life and to find beauty everywhere, even in a driveway pebble. Mom treated each child as an individual and championed their growth and education from Montessori onward. Even in the bustling household, she carved out at least ten minutes each day to devote focused time one on one with each child. Through the years, Mom shepherded the family through more than a dozen moves. Her sense of adventure taught us all to welcome changes and challenges with open arms. Mom’s love was powerful and dependable. But she was also willing to go off the rails, serving waffles, chocolate ice cream and syrup for dinner, yanking kids out of school for an impromptu trip to Disney, whipping up some daquiris with just-picked strawberries to enjoy with her teenager, and sneaking out to teach her 14-year-old son to drive in Dad’s company car. She also extended this sense of fun and playfulness to the dogs and one cat she adored: Duchess, Cinnamon, Ginger, Freedom, Shadow, Max, and Pele. Virginia cared for more than just her children and pets. In her 42-year-long career, she shared her smile and warmth with thousands of patients, serving as a nurse in the intensive care, cardiac, dialysis, and psych units, working at a Veterans hospital, for hospice, and as a visiting and school nurse. She had room in her heart for every kind of patient. Virginia also had a place at the table for all friends and family, hosting many holidays filled with great food, music, belly laughs, and fierce Acey Deucey and Hearts competitions. Brunch often featured bacon and blueberries: blueberry muffins, blueberry pancakes or French Toast with blueberries. Ginny couldn’t wait to get or give a present – her gifts reflected how well she knew and loved the recipients. Nature brought Ginny much joy and peace. She walked in Westwoods in every season and swam in the cold waters of the Long Island Sound, often with a dog paddling along beside her. She watched the seagulls line up for sunrise at the beach, sailed the Sound in Three Bells, and cruised the Danube with her beloved husband. Virginia loved to learn, exploring the universe through Carl Sagan and the psyche through Carl Jung. She studied watercolors and put paintbrushes to paper to capture the shape, light, and mood of poppies, evergreen trees, and snowscapes. She was also a creator of Christmas ornaments, blown Easter Eggs, and Woobies. With her big heart and generous soul, Virginia filled the world with great creativity and love. Though she will be greatly missed, we will see her in every shimmering star, blooming flower, and gently falling leaf. Virginia is proceeded in death but her mother Anna Serbent and father Stanley Serbent. She is survived by her husband Robert, her sister Carolyn and husband Richard (Restak), and her six children and their partners: Danielle and Michael Swope, Michael and Katrin Schulz, Liz and Craig Rusch, Paul Schulz and partner Heather, Sharon and Kyle Gross, and Eric and Angie Schulz. Virginia is also survived by fifteen grandchildren: Carson, Katrina, Trevor, and Natalie Swope; Matthew, Emily, and Ryan Schulz; Cobi and Izzi Rusch; Gabi, Ben, Nick, and Tori Schulz; and Jack Schulz and Trebor Miller. Virginia’s first great-grandchild, Oscar, was born just days before she passed. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Hospice of the Chesapeake for their incredible support. Thank you for helping us through this process and creating an environment for Virginia to have a good death. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Hospice of the Chesapeake in Virginia’s honor. https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/ A private family celebration will be held alongside the Chesapeake Bay on Virginia’s birthday, October 24th, 2023.

Virginia Lucy Schulz

October 24, 1939 - October 19, 2023