Sr. Virginia Skrdlant, S.H.C.J.

Virginia Skrdlant, SHCJ

June 17, 1930 – January 8, 2023

Educator, Pastoral and Social Care Worker, Poet

Rosemont, Pa.

Virginia (Ginny) Skrdlant, SHCJ, a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 71 years, died peacefully on Sunday, January 8, 2023. She was 92. Sister Ginny was well known by her religious name, Mother Mary Lydia.

Sister Ginny was blessed with many gifts and interests. She was a lifelong learner and teacher, pastoral care worker, published poet, birdwatcher, and cat lover. As a Holy Child Sister, Sister Ginny journeyed far from her Midwestern roots, where she graduated from Holy Child High School in Waukegan, Ill.

Wherever she traveled, Sister Ginny brought her keen mind and gentle spirit.

Sister Ginny’s teaching ministry in parish schools spanned nearly 30 years, beginning at Saint Elizabeth School in New York City (1951-53), Saint Anastasia School in Waukegan, Ill., (1953-55 and 1960-71), Saint Veronica School in Chicago, Ill., (1955-60), Saint Mary School in Melrose, Mass., (1971-76), Holy Ghost Church in Whitman, Mass., (1976-79), Notre Dame de Lourdes in Lowell, Mass., (1980-84), Saint Jerome School in North Weymouth, Mass., (1984-86), and Saint Edward School in Brockton, Mass., (1986-87).

Beginning in the late 1980s, Sister Ginny shifted her focus from teaching elementary school students to serving mentally and physically challenged adults in Avon, Massachusetts.

In 1989, Sister Ginny moved to Rosemont, Pa., where she taught emotionally disturbed children and then worked in pastoral care at Norristown State Hospital for 11 years.

In the early 2000s, Sister Ginny received training in prison ministry and even learned “clowning” to help with disabled senior adults supported by Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services.

Sister Ginny received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Mundelein College in Chicago, Ill., in 1958, and a Master of Arts in Education from Cardinal Stritch University, in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1964. She later returned to graduate school and earned a Master of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Emmanuel College, in Boston, Mass., in 1980.

She joins her parents, John and Lydia (Shilhan), and one sister in eternal rest.

Family and friends are invited to a prayer service of remembrance on Monday, January 16, at 4:00 p.m., and Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 17, at 11:00 a.m., Holy Child Chapel, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, Pa., 19010.  Preceding Mass, friends, and family are welcome to attend the wake at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010, or made online at https://www.shcj.org/