VIRGINIA (MCCOLLEY)  BRYAN

July 14, 1922 - Jan. 30, 2011
SOUTH BEND - Virginia L. Bryan, 88, of South Bend, passed away Sunday, January 30, 2011, in Regency Place. She was born July 14, 1922, in Churubusco, Indiana, to the late Clifford E. and Lois J. (Johnston) McColley. She is survived by two sons, Mark E. (Jeri) Podell of Houston, TX, and Neal P. Podell of Rockford, IL; brother, Dale E. (Rosemary) McColley of South Bend; her surrogate family, Cheryl, Greg, Jessica and Sarah Rafalski of Edwardsburg, MI; and several nieces and nephews.

Ginny had resided in South Bend the first 34 years of her life and graduated from South Bend Central High School and Memorial Epworth School of Nursing. Following graduation, she worked in the Pediatric Department.

In May 1944 she reported to Fort Benjamin Harrison for active duty in the Army Nurse Corps. She was assigned to Crile General Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked in the Psychiatric Division of the hospital. She also was the last director of the W.A.C. at the hospital. Prior to completing her tour of duty, she was assigned to the South Pacific; when Japan surrendered, her overseas orders were cancelled.

In June 1946, Ginny married Edward J. Podell, both of them attending Indiana University, Bloomington. Both completed their degrees and Ginny returned to Memorial Hospital Pediatrics as a Clinical Instructor in 1949. She was appointed to be the Director for the School of Nursing and worked full-time with student nurses. In the fifties, the family moved to Battle Creek, MI. Their young ones took up most of her time.

In 1960 she worked as Director of Nursing at the Leila Y. Post Montgomery Hospital. In 1964 she left to go to Kellogg Community College in their new Associate Degree of Nursing program. She was there for six years when the hospital asked her to return as Director of Nursing. She completed her career there, retiring as Vice President of Nursing. During her working years, Virginia was active in the Visiting Nurses Association as a Board member and as President. She also served as President of the Community Mental Health Association. She served as a board member when Hospice was organized in the community and the Associate Degree Program at Kellogg Community College. Virginia was also the President of the District Nurses Association and Board member of the Michigan Society of Hospital Nurses Association. The one activity she was most happy with was being Chairperson for the District Nurses Association and Michigan State University to bring their B.S. Nursing programs to Battle Creek, so that nurses could work on their degree in the community.  Her last work was as a consultant to the Calhoun City Medical Facility under the Kellogg grant.

After retirement Ginny learned other skills such as making baskets, cross-stitching, quilting and stenciling. Summer and holidays were celebrated by travel in the states. The family enjoyed travel to Texas, Florida, California and Michigan. Ginny and Ed enjoyed the ball games and activities of both sons.

Her husband Ed died in 1991, but continued to enjoy family life. In 1994, Ginny married John Bryan. They enjoyed family life with their surrogate family, the Rafalskis. They were active in church activities serving as Eucharistic Ministers, RCIA team members, and members of the Liturgy Commission, acting in church dramas at St. Jude's and Little Flower Catholic churches. They continued to travel until John's death in 2006.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 5th, in Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 Ironwood Road, South Bend, IN 46635. Friends may visit with the family from 10:30 till time of services on Saturday in the church. Cremation has taken place at Welsheimer Family Funeral Home crematory. In Virginia's memory, contributions may be made to Little Flower Catholic Church. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Feb. 3, 2011.

01/03/2023 EJS