Virginia Lopez

Virginia (Tabares) Lopez, 95, passed in her home Wednesday, February 7, 2024, surrounded by tremendous love, all her beautiful plants, and counters full of food. She lives on in the enormous lineage of people she had a hand in raising, nine generations of stories and photos, and all the “a handful of this” and “a pinch of that”, “just cook it til it looks done” family recipes. Virginia’s legacy is immense and the impacts of her years will be felt by many for generations.

A rosary will be recited at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emporia on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 16, 2024, also at Sacred Heart Church with burial following at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Memorial contributions to Hand in Hand Hospice of Emporia, Camp Alexander, or the Friends of Emporia Animal Shelter can be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801. You can leave online condolences at www.robertsblue.com.

Born in Omaha on June 19th, 1928, Virginia, the eldest, was a kind, natural leader, and caretaker for her 10 younger siblings and all those around her. As a child she attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in the class for the Mexican students, and then went on to Emporia High School, ending just a month shy of high school graduation. September 28, 1946, marked the genesis of her extensive lineage, when she wed WW2 Veteran (and the still reigning “marbles king” of Emporia), Ambrose Lopez at St. Catherine’s Church in Emporia. They enjoyed 73 years of love and partnership, surrounded by their blossoming brood, until his passing in 2020.

Balancing the responsibilities of home and family, Virginia spent 35+ years in service as a dietary aide at St. Mary’s Hospital, where she made life-long connections. While nourishing three decades of patients at the hospital, she also took great pride in keeping her large, growing family stuffed with tamales, móle, Sunday soups, and mountains of fresh made tortillas for whoever happened to drop in, family and friends alike. On top of the delicious home cooking, her kitchen was constantly stocked full with the best snacks, ice cream bars, and every kind of soda imaginable. No one went hungry in Virginia’s presence. “Did you eat?” was her common refrain. And even if you had, you’d probably better have at least a few more bites of whatever was on her stovetop just for good measure. When her hands weren’t busy in her kitchen, you could often find them working on a wordsearch or crocheting some beautiful creation to give away.

Always one for socializing, she enjoyed playing cards with her boisterous sister-in-law, bowling league with the Tuesday Night Gals, and watching her sisters take the pot at Friday night bingo (despite her vast array of seemingly unlucky good luck charms). With such a large family, parties were abundant, and she was always eager to join in the fun. She’d come decked out in costumes, ready to get swept onto the dance floor for a few cumbias. The night she and her sisters where VIPs at the Little Joe concert is a favorite memory. The limo full of 70 and 80 somethings, accessorized to the nines, cruised the town waving from the sunroof and then danced the night away from the front row. At holidays, her house was packed tight with piles of people in every room, Virginia at the center of the commotion, smiling and laughing at whatever shenanigans were happening around her dining room table. Although in her later years, hearing the jokes was not always a necessary step before laughing at the jokes. If the kids were laughing, so was she.

Her ornery, playful spirit was with her until her final days. She loved retelling all the funny family stories and would often join in with affectionate teasing. She especially delighted in the Easter holiday when she got to sneakily smash confetti eggs on the heads of all her family members. Not even hiding inside would keep you out of the danger zone. She always had a secret stash, and a sly grin, saved up for the occasion.

An avid sports fan, she loved cheering for many teams, including any one her grandkids were on to local fast-pitch teams and the college baseball world series. She most especially loved rooting for (and stressing about) the Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, and her beloved KU Jayhawks. If no games were on, she’d settle for Hallmark movies or rewatching classic Westerns and episodes of Little House on the Prairie as if they were airing new.

An angel among us, she poured herself into everyone around her. From her siblings, parents and children, to her nieces, nephews and grandkids (plus even a couple extra grandkids “adopted” during her weekly bakery visits…because why not a couple more?), she spent her 95 years being a shining example of unwavering love. Sometimes that love showed up in whispered advice to the girls on how to approach dating or a new marriage. Sometimes as a palmed 5 dollar bill slipped your way during a hug as if it was some back alley exchange. And always it showed up with a “Aren’t you cold?” as you entered her home and a “Be careful!” as you left it. She kept all her babies safe and protected, even if that meant creeping along in the car at 5 mph behind one baby on a bike who insisted on making the six block trek to school alone. Her thoughtful nature ensured that every single person was always included, especially when it came to Christmas gifts. Because of her saintly caretaking of her family, over the years, Virginia amassed an extensive collection of angel figurines, all gifts from loved ones. Her home, and her Christmas tree, is filled with these symbols of protection and guidance, and there is no more apt representation of her character. Our angel has received her wings.

The family is comforted with visions of Virginia’s heavenly reunion with her loved ones: parents, Modesto and Juana Tavares; husband, Ambrose; son, William “Billy” Lopez; siblings Frank Tabares, Ramona “Monie” Aguilar, Ignacio “Nacho” Tabares, Guadalupe “Lupe” Ryon, and John Tabares; also daughter-in-law Mary Louise (Lopez).

She will live on in the hearts, memories, and story-telling of: siblings, Phyliss “Fili” Alvarado, Ernestina Ramirez, Mary “Mamie” (Jim) Harris, Antonio “Toppy” (Mary) Tabares, and Margaret “Moggie” (Bill) Henricks, all of Emporia; children, Michael Lopez of Emporia, Mary Jane (Alfred) Moreno of Wichita, Barbara A. Tobar of Omaha, NE; Nancy Joan (Scott) Smith of Emporia; and Dr. William James II (Melissa), of Sarasota, FL; as well as a growing flock of 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.