Virginia L. Cunningham

A memorial service for Virginia "Jana" L. Cunningham, 90, of Rochester, MN will be at 11:00am, Monday, December 6, 2010 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes with Reverend Fred Rengstorf officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Virginia Luella Purvis was born on February 24, 1920 in Rochester, MN to Clyde and Clara (DeWitz) Purvis. She passed in the early morning on November 25, 2010 at Sunrise Cottages in Rochester.Jana graduated from Rochester High School. She spent time in San Francisco, CA in the 1940's during WWII, she met and married Donald F. Cunningham on October 26, 1946 in Iowa. She worked in the Plummer Building as a statistician for Mayo Clinic and later as a home health-aid at the Olmsted County Health Department, of which she retired from in the early 1990's. She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church where she enjoyed the company of the Quilting Circle, she was a member of the Red Hat Club of Rochester, and also a Woman of the American Legion Auxiliary.Jana has five surviving children, James Cunningham of Cannon Falls, MN; her daughter, Susan (Al) Pehler of Billings, MT; her son, Michael (Sue) Cunningham of Chicago, IL; her daughter, Darcie (Gary) Taylor of Brooklyn Park, MN ; her son, Kim (Cindy) Cunningham of Rochester, MN. Jana (also known as "Meme" from the eldest grandchildren) genuinely enjoyed visiting and spending as much time as possible with her six grandchildren as they were growing; Randy (Shirley) Cunningham of Northfield, MN; Mark (Lori) Pehler of Billings, MT; Melissa (Cliff) Dalley of Parker, CO; Matthew (Abigehl) Taylor of Hugo, MN; Christopher Cunningham of Rochester; and Katie Sue Cunningham of Rochester. As was possible, she visited and thoroughly enjoyed seeing and being with her six great grandchildren; Jordan, Jacob and Jenni Pehler of Billings, MT; Sarah Dalley of Parker, CO; Ryan Cunningham of Northfield, MN; and Simon Taylor of Hugo, MN and two great-great granddaughters of Billings, MT. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Don), two brothers and a daughter-in-law, Janice Cunningham.Jana (Meme) leaves us with many wonderful memories to remember her. She and Don spent as much time as possible with the family making great memories. They were always there if they were needed. They were avid Viking Fans with season tickets on the first row, center field and they shared these happily with the kids to be sure everyone had a chance to attend. They routinely went to MN Twins games with family or friends and enjoyed riding the buses and meeting friends or family at the games. They spent a month every winter (usually February) in Ft Myers Beach, FL where family members, and many times friends, would typically join them for their vacations to enjoy getting away from the cold too. Many wonderful, lasting memories and photos are proof and these will be treasured always. Jana loved her coffee, plain hamburgers with mustard, she especially enjoyed white cake and sugar cookies. The family would like to say Thank-you to Sunrise Cottages for her last year spent there and all the love and care from those very special people that cared for her. Also, to Season's Hospice for all of their special care and loving comfort these last few weeks. The family wishes memorials directed to Season's Hospice of Rochester, MN. Cards to: Kim Cunningham 639 14th Street NE, Rochester, MN.Ranfranz and Vine Fuenral Homes 5421 Royal Place N.W. Rochester, MN 55901 507-289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com