Virginia Lea Shubert

Virginia Lea Shubert passed away one day before her 75th birthday, on December 21st, 2021 in San Luis Obispo, California. Born December 22nd, 1946, the daughter of Roy (Buster) Shubert and Beatrice (Betty) Shubert, nee Palek. She grew up on a dairy farm near Addieville with her three younger brothers.

She graduated from Okawville Community High School in 1964. She then went on to become a nurse for the next 50 years, graduating from Barnes Hospital School of Nursing in 1967, the University of California, San Francisco school of nursing (Bachelor’s degree in 1976) and the University of Washington (Master’s degree in hospice care) in 1981.

She spent the last 40 years of her career in hospice care, receiving local, state and national awards for her work in this developing field. She was a founding member and past president of the National Hospice Nurses Association and the National Board of Certification of Hospice Nurses, serving on both governing boards for many years.

She married Thomas Edward Farris on January 6th, 1978 and they were extremely happy together until his death of a neurological disease on Christmas Day 2014.

   Her own health was severely impacted by multiple progressive autoimmune diseases from about the same time forward. Friends and family cared for her in her own home until her passing….and she is forever grateful. She had to give up her beloved fishing due to poor health, but despite poor vision, was able to continue lifelong joys of reading, word games and pinochle. In her later years she became skilled in embroidering vintage linen and cotton fabrics. 

She is survived by brothers Dwight (Mary), Russell (Kathy) and Scott (Nancy) Shubert and Will and Mike Farris, and by beloved nieces, nephews and friends. She is also survived by three “adopted” sisters. Her best friend since age seventeen and sister of her heart, Dianne Williams of Chicago, Illinois, Sharon Valk of Fresno, California and Sue Citkowski of San Luis Obispo, California.

Per her wishes, she was cremated and a memorial service will be held in Illinois “in the spring when good fishing weather is here”.