CHICOPEE – Virginia "Virgie" (Burke) Racine, 82, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. She passed into Eternal Life at home surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family. She was born in Fartown, Glenamaddy, County Galway, Ireland on March 22, 1935, a beloved daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Pettit) Burke. She was raised and graduated from schools in Fartown and immigrated to the United States in 1954. She was employed for10 years at the former Bay Bank Valley in Springfield, and for 16 years as the secretary of Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish in South Hadley. She was a communicant of Saint Anne Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister at Jericho in Holyoke. She enjoyed Irish dancing and knitting beautiful Irish sweaters and afghans for her loved ones. She also loved spending time with her loving family and her many dear friends. She leaves her beloved husband and best friend, Retired Chicopee Fire Department Lieutenant Earl E. Racine. They were married on November 27, 1958 and were blessed with over 58 years of happiness together. She also leaves her three loving children, Randal Racine and his wife, Theresa, of Simpsonville, SC, Renee Tetrault and Patricia D’Alma and her husband, Daniel; her six cherished grandchildren, Jennifer Jordan-Careau and her husband, Benjamin, Amy Racine, Daniel Racine, Thomas Tetrault, Michelle Tetrault and Michael Tetrault; her dear sister, Teresa Maziarz of Chicopee; her dear sister-in-law, Maureen Burke of Fartown, Ireland; her dear brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Norman and Ann Racine, Donald and Claire Bernash, Ronald and Eileen Bernash, Wayne Bernash, Eleanor Leach, and Joan LeGrand, and Darlene and Richard Page; and her extended family. In addition to her parents, she was also predeceased by her two brothers, Michael and John Burke; and her two dear sisters, Julia Nadeau and Mary Kendall. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, May 24, 2017 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her Committal Service will follow the Mass at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. For those who prefer, her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com