Virginia Light

Mary Virginia Light, age 85 years of Niles, Michigan died on Monday, May 23, 2016 at her home following an extended illness. She was born September 18, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to John and Sophia (Stephanic) Hartley.

Virginia graduated from New Buffalo Schools in 1948 and earned both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Western Michigan University. She retired from Brandywine Public Schools where she taught for 9 years and was principal for 20 years.

On September 11, 1948 in Dowagiac, Virginia married Talmadge “Tom” Light, with whom she celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before his passing on January 12, 2009. Virginia was also preceded in death by a brother, Joe “Uncle Fuzzy” Hartley and a daughter-in-law, Theresa Light.

Surviving family includes children Thomas G. (& Jan E.) Light, Pamela J. Light-Whitmyer, Gregory Light and Bradley M. (& Vicky) Light, all of Niles; 5 grandchildren, Kellee, Tanya, Natasha, Ashley and Lizzey and 8 great-grandchildren, Mya, Clayton, Ben, Alisjha, Aaliyah, Dion, Haylee and Jared. Also surviving is Virginia’s brother, John Hartley of New Buffalo.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Virginia Light will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2016, at Saint Mary Catholic Church by the Rev. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS of the parish. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Halbritter Funeral Home from 6-8:00p.m. on Friday with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30p.m. Donations in memory of Virginia may be made to the Delta Kappa Gamma Fund or to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.