Virginia often surrounded herself with personal family photographs from the earlier years, and she did always maintain a very high sense of purpose and resolve. She saw humor and irony in ordinary things and especially did she find humor in herself!  And she always found the less-fortunate and those who were ill and hurting, and those who were in mourning, to be such a real and dignified presence for her; and such a sense of awe and humility for her.  She really genuinely loved and cared for others and right up to the moment she passed from this life!

Virginia was a wonderful person, an extraordinary friend and  confidant. Friends shall always be grateful to her for instilling in  them the desire to draw closer—ever closer—to God, and to seek out the less-fortunate, and to be an example of God’s love and His hope  for everyone. And for people to exhibit some humor----a lot of humor and mixed with some good laughter. She often said: “you are here in this life for a very brief time. Always love God, quickly forgive others,  and try to be an example for others of God’s endless love for you.  And build up Christ’s Holy Catholic Church, and always, always, sponsor a boy who is called to be a Roman Catholic Priest!” Virginia, who had a great love for animals, especially dogs and cats, told friends and family to always shelter dogs and let a dog be a friend who will never betray you and will always love you. She requested of friends, and in her own words: “Allow for this luxury in your life!”

Virginia’s Funeral Mass was celebrated on September 27, 2001 at Visitation Church. The Rev. Norman Rotert officiated. Father Rotert reminded everyone of  “Virginia’s deep love and her devotion to Christ and Mary, her love for the Blessed Sacrament and for the Roman Catholic Church; and her very constant desire to share her wealth with others.” A rosary for Virginia was prayed September 26, 2001 at the D. W. Newcomer’s Sons Stine & McClure Funeral Home, (located just three blocks south on Gillham Plaza from where Greenlease Cadillac Motor Company was located on Gillham Road for over 60 years).

Even though so many of her family and friends had preceded her in death, still, so many other friends came for her visitation and Rosary at the funeral home on September 26, 2001. Friends remember how the funeral home chapel setting was quite lovely with the two red vigil candles near her casket, and Father Rotert prayed and led the Holy Rosary. She was finally at rest, and following her Funeral Mass at Visitation Catholic Church the following morning, she was entombed in the Forest Hill Abbey Mausoleum in Forest Hill Cemetery in the same room where Bobby was placed so many years earlier.  Robert Sr., and Virginia Sue Greenlease Sterk are also entombed inside this same room.

The Greenlease Family always called on the D. W. Newcomer’s Sons Funeral Directors for the professional and personal care of their beloved family every time members of their family passed away. When Bobby passed away, the W. G. (Ted) Pearson Family owned the Stine & McClure Undertaking Company, and soon thereafter, the Newcomer Family owned this venerable establishment. Frank Newcomer, Jr. and David W. Newcomer, III were very close personal friends to Robert and Virginia. The Greenlease Family completely relied on the Newcomer’s to handle every detail of the funeral care the family came to depend on from their close and dear friends, the D. W. Newcomer Family. D. W. Newcomer’s Sons Undertakers was originally established in 1893 and continues to this day to provide “the finest in funeral care” for Kansas City families. Virginia often said: “I could never have endured the losses of my beloved family without the kindness and sympathy coming from David and Frank Newcomer, and their very wonderful professional staffs associated with their funeral homes.”

Actually, the Greenlease and Newcomer families shared many of the same interests when it came to philanthropy, and both families gave very generously to many Kansas City area charities, including many, many Catholic charities and endeavors.

Virginia Pollock Greenlease lived and believed in the goodness of all people. She never confined herself to hating or to resentment. She never presented herself as any kind of a  “special saintly person,” as she insisted this description must be reserved for others to make in regard to other people who really were extraordinarily saintly; just not in regard to her.  Even though Virginia believed “we were all called by The Church to be Saints!” She wanted every person to find some great joy in their own life and to pass on things good to others. The unique personality and strong character of Virginia was best found in her generosity towards others. Virginia was perhaps most joyful and happy when she saw that other people were enhanced and elevated, and,  just maybe, as a result of things she might have inspired, and especially with endeavors like the Central City School Fund. She firmly believed this: “Death was never the end of anything, but, the beginning of everything in Christ!” REQUIESCAT  IN  PAX, VIRGINIA...Friends shall always remember to love you, and this especially includes the contributors to this Greenlease website!