Virginia DeChellis 1939-2025
GIRARD — It is with a saddened heart that I am announcing the passing of my mother, Virginia DeChellis, formerly Virginia Pacella, also known to many people who knew her as a sweet, so cute, good-hearted person, and a beautiful woman inside and out.
Born Aug. 6, 1939, in Pacentro, Italy, Virginia would put a smile on everyone’s face that she would meet. She was a deeply religious woman who would show compassion and forgiveness towards others.
As a young girl in Pacentro, Italy, Virginia helped to raise her three younger siblings — her sister, Giulia, and brothers, Giovanni and Tony — she was like a second mother to them. She would also take care of the home while her parents would go off to work in the fields in Italy from early morning to evening.
In 1957, she married Mario DeChellis, her husband of 49 years. Later they moved to the United States and lived for a short time in Youngstown, where she also worked for a period of time at Penn Ohio Towel Supply. Virginia, Mario and their son, Joseph, then moved to Girard.
Virginia was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church.
She enjoyed cooking and baking, specially baking her delicious Italian lemon cookies and chocolate chips, along with homemade pizza and bread, as well as homemade pasta and tomato sauce from scratch. She also canned, and took care of her flowers and houseplants, but mostly, she enjoyed maintaining her vegetable garden. She loved being outside in the sunshine and taking walks, which she found harder to do in the passing years.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Mario; her parents, Giuseppe and Elisa Pacella; half-brothers, Carmine and Salvatore; her half-sister, Maria; and her brothers, Giovanni and Tony.
She leaves behind her son, Joseph; and her sister, Giulia; along with cousins in Australia; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
With Virginia’s passing, a great void has been left in many people’s hearts, especially for her son Joe, whom she cherished deeply, a void that will be very hard to fill.
May Virginia’s love cover us and keep us comforted and strong, and may the memory of her smiling face bring us joy in the times we need her the most.
We all love you, Mom!
Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, 2025, at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel, 2726 Center Road.
Prayers will begin 9 a.m. Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1125 Turin Ave., Youngstown.
Entombment will follow in Greenhaven Memorial Gardens.
Arrangements are by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel.
(special notice)