On Saturday October 31, 2009 my friend Kelly Virina lost her battle with Cancer and stepped into eternity at about 7:30 am.  Kelley had a very rough ride these past five years and I can not begin to tell you how well she handled it considering all the difficulty.  She was divorced with two young boys, and she gave them 110% all the time… even when she was at her sickest.  Kelly also offered up all her suffering, and death, for the reconciliation of her family, and for her boys to grow in faith.

St. Paul said in  Colossians 1:24 “I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.”

What makes us, here on Earth, Saints is not perfection, for that will come in the beatific vision, but, rather heroic virtue and courage in the face of overwhelming adversity.  Kelly was not perfect… she was heroic… she had courage and her example inspires me to embrace the cross of Christ. What could be lacking in the afflictions of Christ? Us… our willingness to suffer, like our Lord, for our sakes and  for others.  Kelly did just that… Kelly please pray for us and especially my Father in law John who is also suffering from Cancer.

Kelley’s boys are now going to live with their Father in the Philippines… please pray for them and if you can pelase consider a donation to their Trust. Thank you and may God richly bless you.

A Vigil and Rosary will start at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4^th in the Adult Meeting Room at St. Anthony of Padua 7801 Bay Branch Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77382. The Adult Meeting Room is located to the right of the church between the church and the gym.

Kelly’s Memorial Mass is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s on Thursday, November 5^th, with a reception in the Adult Meeting Room (at St. Anthony’s) following the burial in Conroe at Cashner Funeral Home & Cemeteries located at: 801 Teas Road, Conroe, TX 77303
Tel. (936) 756-2126.

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN: Contributions for the funeral:

Kristi Buford,

74 Placid Hill Circle

The Woodlands 77381.

Kelly made provisions for the establishment of a trust for the benefit of Taylor and Blaze.  Donations can be made to: “Kiernan O’Connor as Trustee FBO Taylor and Blaze Virina Trust,” 106 S Vesper Bend Cir, The Woodlands, TX 77382.