Virginia M Coller

Virginia M Coller (nee Hagley), 94, of Elyria, died Saturday, March 22, 2014 at New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph after a short illness. Virginia was born February 12, 1920 in Cleveland where she was raised. She received her bachelor of Arts in English from Notre Dame College and Masters of Library Science from Case Western Reserve. She was a veteran of the US Navy serving as a Lieutenant during WWII as part of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). During WWII she was stationed in Washington DC where she met and married her husband Claude, Sr.. Virginia and Claude moved back to Cleveland in 1947 to start their family and in 1953 they moved to Lorain. She worked for Lorain Public Library as the Head Librarian for the Domonkas Branch for 16 years retiring in 1985. She was a member of St. Anthony of Padua, Lorian, and an active member of the Elyria Retirement Community for the last 15 years. She enjoyed learning about history, especially the Civil War era and Abraham Lincoln. Virginia could often be found reading, watching Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, and doing crossword puzzles. Her biggest joy was spending time with her family. She is survived by her sons, Claude (Kaye) Coller of Lorain, James (Nancy) Coller of Broadview Heights, Edgar (Deb) Coller of Arthur, IL, Richard (Diana) Coller of Amherst, and John (Ruth) Coller of Jasper, IN; daughters, Louise (John) Lamb of Atlanta, GA, Sarah (Robert) Mason of Atlanta, GA, and Mary Coller of Youngstown; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary (nee Brown) Hagley; husband, Claude Coller Sr. in 1984; and her daughter, Virginia (Gina) Coller in 1991. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the Dombrowski-Riddle Funeral Home, 1939 Oberlin Avenue Lorain. Prayers will be said at the funeral home on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH. The Reverend Richard Hudak will officiate. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain with Military Honors presented by the VFW Post #451 and American Legion Post #30. The family suggests memorial contributions to the National MS Society, 6155 Rockside Rd., Cleveland, OH 44131 or Alzheimer Association, 38440 Chester Rd., Avon, OH 44011. Online condolences may be made at www.dombrowskifuneralhome.com