Virginia Helen Lane

Virginia Helen (Ginny) Lane was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 30, 1941, the eldest child of Helen and Joseph Lane. She was a sister to five siblings - Mary Jo, Barbara, Tom, Jim, and John. In her formative years Ginny moved with her family to Lindsay, Ontario and Bronxville, New York. In 1962 she graduated with a B.A. in English from Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois (now Dominican University). In September of that same year, Ginny entered the Dominican Order of Sisters in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. She professed her vows with them in 1964, taking the name Sister Mary Rinalda. She taught at Catholic high schools in Dallas, Texas, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1972 she was severely injured in an automobile accident and spent two years recuperating from broken legs. During this period of time she discerned that she wanted to pursue further education and eventually she did so, earning a Master's in Theology from The Aquinas Institute in Dubuque, Iowa in 1976. Subsequently she served as Director of the Dominican Education Center in Sinsinawa and then worked at Saint Dominic parish in Denver, Colorado. A life-changing shift for Ginny occurred in 1977 when she took a position as a Pastoral Assistant at the Church of Saint Mary in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she became known to parishioners as Sister Ginny. She remained on the parish staff until 2017, working with five different pastors: Father Charles Swett, Father Stephen MacAulay, Father Paul Eichhoff, Monsignor Dennis Dorney, and Father Jack Gleason. In 1982 Ginny took a sabbatical year to study at The Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas in their Pastoral Care and Counseling Training Program. She described it as a "special year, both professionally and personally." After much soul searching, Ginny left her Dominican community in 1991. She enjoyed living independently, and was especially happy to buy her own home at the Delaware Crossing Condominiums, creating new friendships there. During her forty years at the Church of Saint Mary, Ginny wore many hats - functioning as a moderator for various ministries. Among her favorites were the St. Gerard's support group for the mothers of babies and young children, and the Hilltoppers who sponsored activities for the senior citizens of the parish. She coordinated the decorating of the sanctuary during the various liturgical seasons. She worked with Eucharistic ministers and lectors. Many parishioners remember her as the person they went to for counsel and advice when they were going through difficult times. She reveled in sharing happy times with her parish family too. In addition to the Church of Saint Mary a very special place for Ginny was Clarehouse, a hospice home where she contributed many volunteer hours assisting patients in their final days and supporting their families and friends. After suffering a debilitating stroke in May of this year, Ginny died on August 14th. She spent the last days of her own earthly life at Clarehouse, receiving the same loving care that she had provided to others for so many years. Ginny was preceded in death by her parents as well as her sisters Barbara and Mary Jo. She is survived by her brothers Tom (Pam) Jim, and John (Patti) and a host of nephews and nieces, including Kathy Hack who was with Ginny at the time of her passing. A rosary service will take place on Tuesday, August 26th at 7 p.m. at the Church of Saint Mary. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated there on August 27th at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Clarehouse, 7617 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa, OK 74133, or online at clarehouse.org/donate.

Virginia Helen Lane

May 30, 1941 - August 14, 2025