Virginia Hazel Hornyak Molnar age 90, of Oregon, OH passed away peacefully on December 8, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Born on June 30, 1934 in Curtice, Ohio to Joseph and Gizella "Hazel" Hornyak, Virginia attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Genoa High School in 1952.

On February 11, 1956, she married Elmer J. Molnar. They resided in the Birmingham neighborhood in Toledo, where they would raise their three children, and spend most of their 55 years together. Active members of St. Stephen Catholic Church, the couple were instrumental in promoting and preserving the Hungarian culture in the parish and surrounding community.

Virginia lived every day as an example of doing small things with great love. Her children and grandchildren grew up working beside her in the church basement as she prepared Hungarian specialties for every occasion: Chicken Paprikas for parish dinners, nut and poppyseed rolls for Christmas, kalàcs for Easter. At home, she made her signature rice pudding for funerals and dobos torte for birthdays. When some students at the parish school didn't have access to a hot lunch, she and her sister Anna Mae took it upon themselves to start providing one in the school cafeteria where they would personally feed more than a hundred children every school day for the next eight years.

A devout Catholic, Virginia served her parish in countless ways, including building the outdoor altars for Corpus Christi Sunday, caring for church vestments, serving as president of the Altar Rosary Society, a member of St. Vincent de Paul and a Eucharistic minister. She especially enjoyed taking communion to the Little Sisters of the Poor, where she developed her love for the campus where she would eventually live. Most of all, she was a living example of the love of Christ in action.

After raising her children, Virginia went back to school and became a critical care nurse, serving at Riverside Hospital from 1983 until her retirement in 1996. Despite her many commitments, Virginia always put family first. "Gram" (or "Ma" to some) was a source of encouragement, affection and support to all the children in her life. To her children and grandchildren, she was a primary caregiver and an unwavering source of strength, support and advice. To her great-grandchildren, she was a constant presence in their lives and a spirited playmate well into her eighties. To them all, she was a tireless cheerleader, confidant, and friend.

Virginia enjoyed a good cup of coffee, spending time with her family and friends, and using her gifts in the service of others. Appropriately, one of her favorite pieces of music was Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man – a celebration of ordinary people making an extraordinary difference in the world.

Virginia is survived by her children, Paul (Jen) Molnar, Mary Luzader, and Pam (Glenn) Taptich; her grandchildren Jessica (Ryan) Riter, Allison Luzader, James (Matthew) Molnar, Kaleigh (Tony) Sammut, Justis Madrigal, and Zoe Molnar; and great-grandchildren, Hailey, Olivia, Addison, Kennedy, Micah, Ethan and Isaac; siblings Joseph (Carol) Hornyak and Tom (Laila Kujala) Hornyak and brother-in-law Steve Vamos; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Elmer, her parents, and two of her siblings, Anna Mae Zajacz and Rosemary Vamos.

The family will receive friends at the Gardens of St Francis, 930 S. Wynn Road, Oregon, Wednesday, December 11, 2024 from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm, where the rosary will be prayed at 7:30 pm. Mass of Christian Burial Thursday, December 12, 2024, in the Gardens of St. Francis Chapel at 10:30 am, with additional visitation beginning at 9:30 am. Private interment: Calvary Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff at The  Gardens of St. Francis and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their tender and compassionate care of Virginia in her final years and days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be directed to Helping Hands of St. Louis or The Gardens of St. Francis. Arrangements entrusted to Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home.

Virginia spent countless hours sewing lap quilts for the homebound, crocheting caps and blankets for newborns, and making treasured family keepsakes. Through her many simple acts of great love, she also knit together a lasting legacy in her family and community. Though deeply missed, she is forever imprinted in our hearts and lives. We love you, Ma. Thanks for everything.