Virginia Rustia Paraiso

Please keep Virginia's immediate family in your prayers this week as they gather for her first postmortem Paschal remembrance. RICHMOND, Ind. – Mrs. Virginia Rustia Paraiso, age 94, of Richmond, Indiana, went to heaven on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones. Born March 14, 1928, in Manila, Philippines, to Roman and Caridad. Virginia, better known as Viring, Virgie, or Lola was the second of six children (Josefina, Roman, Sergio, and Francisco, deceased, and survived by Leticia). She married Dr. Antonio Paraiso in 1955, and he preceded her in death after 55 years of marriage. In 1965, they mourned the loss of their oldest daughter, Suzanne, at the age of 9. She is survived by 4 adoring daughters: Sandra (Joseph), Marie Antoinette (David), Marie Fidela (Craig), and Michelle; 10 grandchildren Valerie (Yeidher), Michela (Erik), Kiersten (Brad), Keeley (Nas), Jordon, Cassandra, Alexandra, Michael, John Paul, and Rachel; 4 great grandchildren, Noah, Avery, Camila, and Callum; cherished nieces, nephews, and friends; and loving caregiver, Ethel. Mrs. Paraiso received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Butler University in 1972, Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of the Philippines in 1954, and Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Santo Tomas in 1951. Virginia worked as a Registered Pharmacist at Reid Hospital and Health Care Services for 28 years. She also expertly managed her late husband’s Obstetrics and Gynecology practice in Richmond from 1968-1990. Prior employment included work as a Medical Technologist at Pawtucket Memorial Hospital in Rhode Island, Presbyterian Hospital, and St. Joseph Hospital in New Jersey, as well as a Medical Technologist, instructor, and bacteriologist in the Department of Health in Manila, Philippines. She was sent as a Scholar sponsored by a Philippine and United States Grant to Japan’s 406th Medical Laboratory Hospital to specialize in Medical Technology. She was a Past President of the Wayne Union Medical Auxiliary and the Indiana Philippine Medical Association Auxiliary. She was a member of the American Indiana Pharmaceutical Association and the American Public Health Association. The Paraiso family immigrated to the United States in 1966, and lived in Pawtucket, RI, and Hamilton, OH, prior to settling in Richmond and becoming US citizens. Dr. and Mrs. Paraiso considered Richmond their Shangri-La, the perfect location to realize their American dream. Virginia served as a devout member of St. Mary Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir and served as Eucharistic minister. Virginia genuinely loved people from all walks of life, and that love was reciprocated. She particularly enjoyed cooking, singing, dancing, gardening, and travel. Most of all she cherished spending time with family and friends. All of those who had the privilege of knowing her will truly miss her, especially her warm hospitality and Filipino dishes, fun-loving nature, fierce determination, quick wit, immense generosity, daily prayerfulness, and her motivational mantra to “Go for it! If others can do it, you can do it, too!” Visitation for Virginia Rustia Paraiso will be from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, February 24, 2023, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 25, 2023, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 710 North A Street, Richmond, with Father Sengole T. Gnanaraj and Father Paul Doyle, C.S.C. officiating. Entombment will follow in Earlham Memorial Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in memory of Virginia Rustia Paraiso to the Cleveland Clinic Center for Brain Health Cleveland for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Gifts can be sent to Cleveland Clinic Foundation, P.O. Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655 or made online at https://give.ccf.org/ClevelandClinicNeuro. Please include the name of the deceased and area in the memo section on the check. Contributions can also be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 50 East 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240, or Seton Catholic High School, 240 South 6th Street, Richmond, IN 47374. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Virginia Rustia Paraiso

March 14, 1928 - February 15, 2023