Virginia Marie Ponce

Virginia Marie Ponce, 72, of 488 W. Knox St., Galesburg, died at 2 p.m. on Monday August 27, 2007 at OSF St. Mary Medical Center. Virginia was born on December 19, 1934 in Chicago, the daughter of Alfredo and Eulalia “Lala” Castillo Lozano. Virginia was raised and educated in Fort Madison, IA. She married Ruben C. Ponce on September 6, 1958 at St. Patrick’s Church, Galesburg. Virginia worked at Gross Galesburg, then OMC Gale Product’s, and for the past 19 years living her passion making and decorating cakes. Virginia was of the catholic faith and always active in her church. Surviving Virginia are her husband, Ruben; 1 son, Pierre (Shelley) Ponce of Oneida; 1 daughter, Bridgette Teel of Galesburg; 6 grandchildren, Brandy, Jamie, Nicole, and Samantha Ponce, Jacob and Danielle Teel; 2 great granddaughters, Mia and Bella Ponce Voss; 4 brothers, Rito (Paula), Mannuel, and Angelo (Betty) Lozano all of Ft. Madison, IA, and Raymond (Margaret) Lozano of Tampa, FL; 2 sisters, Shirley (Art) Velasquez of Chicago, and Angelina “Angie” Galvan of Fort Madison, IA. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews; Theresa Ring of Galesburg, whom Virginia and Ruben thought of as a daughter; mother-in-law, Mary Ponce; sister-in-law, Jovita (Jesse) Ponce; and a brother-in-law, Robert Ponce all of Galesburg. Virginia was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Leopoldo “Pie”, Enrique, and Carlos “Joe”, and her father-in-law, Lee Ponce. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 31, 2007 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, with the Rev. Ernest Pizzamiglio, officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2007 at Watson Funeral Home, with the rosary being prayed at 8 p.m. Cremation rites will be accorded following the funeral mass, with burial of ashes at a later date in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Costa Catholic Academy and St. Jude’s Children Hospital, Peoria, Illinois.