Virginia Collura, 92, a devoted Catholic, mother and grandmother, died peacefully surrounded by family at Kansas City Hospice House on July 28, 2018. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. with the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 2, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 309 Benton Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64124. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it was Virginia's wish that contributions be made to the John Thomas NKH Foundation , 16858 Hickory Trails Lane, Wildwood, MO 63011, a non-profit foundation to support Virginia's great-grandson who was born with a rare metabolic disorder that will affect him the rest of his life.

Virginia Haskamp was born on September 9th,1925 in Glasgow, MO. She was raised on the farm in central Missouri but moved to Kansas City to start her new life and career life, away from the farm as a secretary at a law firm.  She lived in an all-woman Boarding House near 31st and Troost. She met Johnny Collura on a blind date, they married and worked together selling concessions and novelties at large State Fairs, Circuses and Expositions all over the United States and Canada.  They were the best there was when it came to Embroidering Hats and making Cotton Candy.  Virginia and Johnny bought their first and only home at 408 Brooklyn in 1949 when their two children, John "Speedy" and  James "Russ", were old enough to start school.  Over the 65+ years they lived on Brooklyn, many times during the summer, Johnny and Virginia, would open their garage doors and give away Free Cotton Candy to kids in the North East area.  Whenever they did this, it didn't take long for kids as far away as Montgomery Wards to the North End to be standing in line for what was then and now a very special free treat.  To this day when we run into people from the old neighborhood, the first thing they mention is the "Gift" of Free Cotton Candy that Johnny and Virginia gave to the community.

Mom was a "Working Mom" along with Johnny, but she always made time for all the activities that two young boys could think of to do. Early in her married life she learned to "Cook Italian" even though her heritage was Scandinavian and French.  Grandma Sarah (Johnny's mom) came to visit from Cleveland almost every summer and she learned a lot about Italian cooking from those visits. At an early time in our lives she started a tradition of making Italian Cookies, for just about everyone she knew, for Christmas.  We can remember the basement being stacked full of boxes that mom used to store her Christmas treats in.

After moving to Kansas City permanently Virginia became book Keeper / secretary with Dysart Dental Labs.  When the owner of the dental lab sold the business and retired she, along with two other department managers at Dysart, formed a partnership and opened Quality Dental Labs on 72nd and Troost.  A few years later, to expand the business, they relocated the lab to the new Front Street Industrial area between I-435 and Chouteau.  When it was time for the two remaining partners to think about retirement, they sold the business to Keller Dental Labs based in St. Louis, MO, and entered retirement five years later.

Virginia continued to live at 408 Brooklyn until four years ago when she sold the only home the Collura family had ever known and moved north to live with her son Russ and his wife Su.  Mom always maintained ties to "Her Church" and even though she moved out of the Northeast neighborhood she drove herself back to  mass and other church activities at St. Anthony's often. Two years later, after she could no longer drive, she moved to The Fountains at Greenbrier in Independence, MO, where she made many new friend and played Pinochle, Canasta and Bingo almost daily.   Right up to two weeks ago, when she fell ill, she was active daily at any number of events that took place at The Fountains. Although her time at the Fountains was only a short two years she made friends there just like she knew them all her life.

Mom I am sure will be missed by many people other than her family.  She was involved in everything and knew everyone.  Our lives will be different now that she is gone, but she will always be loved and never be forgotten.

Love Speedy, Russ, Diana and Su

Virginia is survived by her two sons, John "Speedy" Collura (Diane), and James "Russ" Collura (Su); four grandchildren, Vince Collura (Peggy) of Las Vegas, NV, Alicia Collura (Mike VerWey) of Sioux Falls, SD, Cindy Graham (Sean) of St. Louis, MO, Chris Collura (Sarah) of Raymore, MO. Virginia also had eleven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers: Vince Collura, Chris Collura, Mike VerWey, Sean Graham, Tim Swan, Pete LanFranca, Mitch Hayden, Kent Dicus.

Honorary Pallbearers: Jerry Garafolo, Ron Collura.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com