Virginia Bollwerk

Bollwerk, Virginia Ann "Missy," "Ginny" (nee Smith) fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 at age 82. Beloved wife for 59 years of George P. Bollwerk, Jr. Loving mother of G. Paul (Helen) Bollwerk, III, Ann (Robert) Sielaty, James (Gilda) Bollwerk, Elaine (T. Michael) Murray, and Mary Johnston. Dear grandmother of Elizabeth, Melissa, Stephanie, Eric, Benjamin, Alexander, Margaret, Joseph, Lauren and Nicholas. Dear Step-grandmother of Nathan, Kelly, Suzanne, David and Ana. Dear step-great-grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt and friend. Daughter of the late James and Marie Smith (nee Stewart); preceded in death by her five siblings (Jim, Jack, bill, infant brother and Patricia). Educated through high school at Notre Dame de Sion, Kansas City. Attended Maryville College in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked in Washington, DC, as a French interpreter for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) prior to her marriage. Missy married George Paul Bollwerk, Jr., a native of St. Louis, MO. and then a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army, stationed in West Germany, in Fulda, West Germany, on May 3, 1952. During George's career as a metallurgical engineer, the Bollwerks lived in Texas and Oklahoma as well as Missouri. Missy was active in the various communities they called home and in the Catholic parishes of those communities, where she was a member of the Women's Sodality and taught in children's faith formation programs. She also worked for a time as secretary to the minister of the Presbyterian Church in Dumas, Texas. Upon the family's return to St. Louis in 1974, they became members of Assumption Parish, where Missy was active over the years as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy communion, a lector, an instructor in the children's liturgy program, and a member of the Perpetual Adoration Society and the Assumption Heritage Committee. She also served as a docent at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis and worked as a tour guide for "discover St. Louis." In 1981, Missy was initiated into the Alpha Iota chapter of Psi Psi Psi ("Tri Psi"), an organization composed of the mothers of Delta Delta Delta Sorority members. Thereafter, she served repeatedly in such chapter leadership posts as President, Treasurer, and Advisor from the 1980s through the early 2000s. During the same period, she also served in Tri Psi's international organization in such capacities as International President, International Treasurer and Third Vice President. She was particularly active in Tri Psi's scholarship program, serving as Advisor and Scholarship Fund Chairperson from 2001 0 2004 and as Treasurer of the scholarship fund from 2008-2010. Missy was also an active member in the "Red Hat" Society. In her leisure time, Missy particularly enjoyed traveling. During their 59 years of marriage, she and George visited 49 of the 50 states and traveled abroad to such countries as Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. Services: Funeral Tuesday, 11:00 am at JOHN L. ZIEGENHIEN & SONS (South County) 4830 Lemay Ferry Rd. to Assumption Catholic Church for Mass at 11:30 am. Interment Assumption Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Virginia's honor may be made to the Tri Psi Scholarship Fund, c/o Louella Phipps, 18219 Ashford Oaks Dr., Glencoe, MO (63038). VISITATION MONDAY 3 - 9 PM at John L. Ziegenhein & Sons Funeral Home.. September 12, 2011
3:00 PM to 9:00 PM

John L. Ziegenhein & Sons ( South County)
4830 Lemay Ferry Road
St. Louis County, MO 63129
314 894 8444
September 13, 2011
11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Assumption Catholic Church
4725 Mattis Road
St. Louis, MO 63128

September 13, 2011
12:40 PM to 12:50 PM

Assumption Catholic Church Cemetery
4725 Mattis Road
St. Louis, MO 63128