Racine- Virginia Frances (nee: Shoop) Svoboda, 84, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 7, 2006 at the Lincoln Village Convalescent Center following a courageous battle with cancer. Virginia was born in Racine on July 4, 1922 to the late Zigg and Mamie (nee: Schram) Shoop. She attended Holy Name, Bebe, Franklin and Mitchell Schools and graduated from Washington Park High. She began working at age 18 for Dremel Mfg. before transferring to Dumore Mfg. during WWII. After her sons were old enough, Virginia began a long career of working in hardware stores- Badger Paint, Coast-to-Coast, Kortendick and, finally, Lee’s Hardware from where she retired at age 81. Virginia had a passion for and drew great joy from fishing. She spent many days and weeks in the Minocqua area with her children and siblings. Even during very difficult financial and emotional times for her, Virginia still managed to take her children to Northern Wisconsin every summer. Virginia had a love for the outdoors and a high environmental awareness. In her neighborhood, she was known as “the bird lady” because of her passionate interest in and feeding of birds, especially Cardinals. Virginia had a gift for writing and embraced an existential view of life. She was extremely adept at repairing and fixing things, and for refinishing furniture. She will be remembered fondly and missed deeply. Surviving are her sons, Elwood (Jody) Svoboda of Racine and Kevin Svoboda of Centennial, CO; grandchildren, Justin, Erin, Natalia and Gregory Svoboda; sister, Esther Hathaway; sister-in-law, Sarah Shoop, both of Racine; and by many special nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her sister, Marie (Stanley) Pelk; and by brothers, Leo Shoop, James (Marie) Shoop and Joseph (Margie) Shoop. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home, 4600 County Line Rd., on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 11:00 am with Rev. Jeffrey M. Thielen officiating. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Wednesday from 10-11 am. Memorials to the Lincoln Village-Activities Dept. have been suggested. A special note of thanks to the entire staffs of Lincoln Village, Hospice Alliance, Dr. Mark DeCheck and Dr. Michael Mullane for the compassionate care and support that was so warmly extended to our Mom during her 2-year battle with cancer.
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