Matushka Virginia Katherine Pyrch (79) fell asleep in the Lord the morning of August 5, 2020, in Virginia Beach, VA. Matushka was born in Sewickley, PA on November 14, 1940, to John and Ann Dofner. She studied nursing and worked in that professor for over 40 years.
She married her high school sweetheart Paul Pyrch which led to her vocation as a Priest’s and Navy Chaplain’s wife. She accompanied her husband on assignments to Norfolk, VA; Parris Island, SC; Washington, D.C.; Newport, RI; and Camp Lejeuene, NC while working as a nurse and raising their three daughters. She served her faith in the Orthodox Church by teaching Sunday School, making feast day preparations, serving as a fellowship leader, and organizing Church fundraisers. Her nursing career spanned the east coast with her specializing in OB/GYN and Orthopedics while working in several hospitals to include Beaufort Memorial, Bethesda Naval, Sentara Norfolk General, Camp Lejeune Naval, and EVMS. She retired in 2006 where she devoted her time as a beloved grandmother to her large extended family.
Matushka Virginia is survived by Archpriest Paul, her husband of 59 years, three daughters: Katya (James) Beecham, Beth (Bo) LaMotte, and Faith Pyrch; six grandchildren: Leah, Drew, Rebekah, Kyra, Johnathan, and George. She is also survived by a brother, Robert (Darian Dennis) Dofner and a sister Janis (Michael) Dedolph as well as beloved sisters-in-law: Rosemary (Howard dec.) Simpson, Carolyn (Gus) Ziady, Barbara (Tom) Czerwinski as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
The family will receive visitors on Friday, August 7 from 6:00-9:00 PM at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts, Laskin Road chapel with a brief Panikhida with limited capacity at 7:00 PM. The funeral will be Saturday, August 8th at Dormition of the Theotokos Orthodox Church at 11:00 AM for immediate family with live-streaming of the service available for friends and extended family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her loving memory to St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary at 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707.
Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.
May Matushka Virginia’s memory be eternal!