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As our young people, the Class of 2007, leave us, we know that they are well-prepared for their future education. We are confident that they will bring to their enthusiasm, their creative spirits, generous and warm hearts, and true Christianity wherever they go. These qualities are so needed in each generation to build the church of the future, and it is this future need that leads us every year to choose a past graduate who has brought to the Christian community those qualities which were learned from family and, hopefully, from experiences at St. Joseph School.
The Distinguished Graduate Award, sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association, is given to an alum whose spirit of Catholic education has served the church and the community. St. Joseph School is proud to recognize as distinguished graduate a member of the class of 1933, Virginia Reed.
This year’s Distinguished Graduate has spent a lifetime at St. Joseph. St. Joseph Parish has played an important role in Virginia's entire life. Virginia was born in Lockport to Barbara and James Wacha. With her baptism at St. Joseph's, she began her lifelong involvement with the parish. Like her father, brother and sister, she attended St.
Joe's school for all 8 grades and fondly remembers the three room building. She recalls that the first floor "little room" was for grades 1,2,&3. The 4th and 5th grades were in the second floor room, and the 6th, 7thand 8th grades were in the "big front room". There were a total of 5 in her 1933 graduating class.
Virg married Frederick Reed and their 5 daughters, Kathleen(Sister Anne of Jesus), Janet Boland, Rosemary Paprocki, Anne Morrissey, and Mary Kloock all graduated from St. Joseph School. Virginia was very involved in the school. She served as President of Mother's Club, and was on the school board. She remained active in parish fundraisers volunteering her time and talent whenever needed. She served as Vice President of CCW, helped with counting money, sewing Baptismal gowns, caring for the church linens, working at the bazaars, luncheons, and
bingo. In 1989 she was deservedly picked as Woman of the Year.
This year's Distinguished Graduate exemplifies Christian values in all that she is and all that she does. From the time she was a student here at SJS, Virginia Reed's loyalty to her faith and parish has never faltered. While she has given so much to this community, parish, and school and truly shines as a distinguished graduate, she is most humble and most reluctant to be honored today. She is much more comfortable taking care of others and making others feel special. Mrs. Reed will continue to share her time and talents with us in an effort to maintain a nurturing environment and education for the children of St. Joseph, both now and in the future. She believes in this community, in this school and in this parish. I can’t imagine a better example of a distinguished graduate for our students today. Living a simple and humble life, serving the Lord and most especially, serving his people………Mrs. Reed is a wonderful example of living a distinguish life of faith and service.
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