Virginia Buda

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Virginia Buda passed away Thursday, Jan. 16, 2015, at The Colony in Eden Prairie, two days after celebrating her 95th birthday, sharp to the very end.

She was born Virginia Mrofchak on Jan. 13, 1920, in Ironwood, Mich., where she lived for 81 years.

In 1943 she married Frank Buda. Together they raised five pretty good kids. Virginia and Frank were married for 69 years. He preceded her in March 2012.

During WWII, Virginia worked at a defense plant in Flint, Mich., working on the buffer tubes of 50-caliber machine guns. Gifted at sewing and knitting, Virginia was the longtime tailor at Mrofchak's Men's Store in the era when men's suits came unfinished and had to be tailored to fit.

Fisherman-knit sweaters were her trademark and every new baby received a beautiful sweater from "Vergie."

An avid reader, Virginia remembered every book she ever read. She instilled the love of reading in all her kids and was always curious as to what they were reading now. Isn't everyone's bedside stands heaped with books? As her eyesight failed, she switch to books on tape, listening to books up until three weeks ago.

In 2006, Virginia and Frank moved to Minneapolis to be near the "kids." The winters here reminded her of her beloved U.P., except "could use a little more snow."

Virginia is survived by her children, Michael (Barbara), Mason, Mich., Tom (Jackie), St. Louis Park, Dave, Minneapolis, Barbara (Dave) Frye, Grand Rapids, Mich., Michele (Jeff) Carlson, Victoria; grandchildren Dan and Jon Buda, Adam, Alex and Camille Frye, and Mitchell Carlson; one brother, Joe (Phyllis) Mrofchak, Eden Prairie; and her beloved friend, Jeanne Evenstad, and family of Ironwood.

She was preceded in death by husband, Frank; brothers, Frank, George and David; and sister, Helen Arasim.

The family wishes to thank The Colony of Eden Prairie for outstanding care. All memorials will be given to Fairview Hospice.

Funeral services are Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, at Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Louis Park, Minn. Visitation is at 10:30 a.m., with services at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

P.S. Our mom really did make the best "pasties."