Biography

Sister Virginia Ginet (Sr. Miriam Angela), age 94, died at the Marie-Rose Center at Mary’s Woods in Lake Oswego on February 2, 2012. She was a vowed member of the Sisters of the Holy Names for 74 years.

Virginia Mary Ginet was born the third daughter of Joseph and Corinne Valiquette Ginet on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25 in 1917, and named in honor of the Blessed Mother. She lived on a farm on Sterling Creek near Jacksonville where she grew up with her six siblings. Her father died when she was 11, and although her mother remarried, life was not easy after the death of the gentle, fun-loving Joseph. She was to say that the hardships she endured on the farm prepared her for life in Lesotho. Her lifelong concern for the poor and disadvantaged had its roots in the soil of southern Oregon.

Virginia and her sisters attended St. Mary’s Academy in Medford, living with the Providence sisters at Sacred heart Hospital and working for their room and board. It was there that Virginia became interested in nursing, an interest that lasted a lifetime. Although she asked permission to enter the Providence order, a wise sister of that community told her she belonged in the Holy Names, and in 1935 she followed her sister Olivette, now known as Sr. Helene Rose, to Marylhurst where she made her first profession as a Holy Names sister in 1937,

Over the course of several years and at several hospitals, Sister earned her RN, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Midwifery degree. She taught and nursed at Holy Names Academy in Spokane, Holy Names Academy in Seattle, and Marylhurst College. At the urging of her friend, Sr. Elma Fitzgerald, she went to Lesotho where she spent 31 years performing remarkable actions under often difficult circumstances, working with both the Catholic and National Authorities. In addition to her many years as midwife and nurse, she founded St. Rose Health Centre, served as secretary of the Bishops’ Conference and Executive Director of the Commission for health and social welfare. In this capacity she associated with kings, cardinals, and princes, and discussed health care with Mother Teresa. She traveled extensively, giving talks and workshops in such places as Western Africa, Australia, London, Germany, Hong Kong and the Holy Land.

While she lived in Lesotho she made many friends among the native people and the sisters. She adopted several children, and some of her happiest and saddest times in Africa centered around them. Her beloved Patrick whom she had cared for since he was a baby, drowned at age 16. Her daughters had some sad mistreatment at the hands of unscrupulous negotiators, but there were many moments of great joy, and she lived to see the girls happily married with beautiful babies. Although she was honored by the government and the Church, nothing gave her more pleasure than her children. She wrote a moving account of her African experience entitled, Walking with the Basotho.

On her return to the States, Sister Virginia served as coordinator of the sisters at the Provincial House and helped with the care of the sick and retired sisters. Her gentle, caring manner endeared her to many, both young and old, whom she impressed with and her deep love and trust in God