Sister Virginia Griffin (formerly Sister Agnes Michael), 89, a Sister of Mercy for 48 years, died Tuesday, January 5, 2010, after a brief illness. A native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, she was the daughter of Michael J. and Agnes (Buckley) Griffin.
Sister Virginia held a B.Ed. degree in education, social studies and mathematics from Plymouth Teachers College, and an M.Ed. degree in education from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. She pursued further studies in mathematics at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Simmons College in Boston. She also did further study in theology at Rivier College in Nashua and Mount St. Mary College in Hooksett, N.H.
Before entering the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Virginia taught mathematics at Portsmouth (N.H.) High School. As a Sister of Mercy, she taught mathematics at Bishop Brady High School in Concord and Mount St. Mary High School in Nashua. She was also a teacher at St. Patrick School in Portsmouth and St. Ann School in Gloucester, Mass.
After retiring from full-time teaching, Sister Virginia became involved in the Foster Grandparents Program and served as a tutor at Portsmouth Middle School for more than 15 years. In 2005, she received a Spirit of Life Award from the Portsmouth Rotary Club in recognition of her service to the community.
Family members include her brother, Father Michael Griffin of Manchester; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends may call at the Warde Health Center, 21 Searles Road, Windham, N.H., on Monday, January 11, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. At 11 a.m., a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the chapel. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, NH.
Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St, Salem, NH has care of the arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 21 Searles Road, PO Box 420, Windham, NH 03087-0420.