Helen Gola was born Feb. 20, 1931, to Louis and Agatha (Stawasz), the second of 10 children. Baptized at Corpus Christi Church in Detroit, she attended the parish grade school. Following one year at St. Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, she transferred to the Felician Academy, graduating in 1948.

Responding to the gentle call of the Lord, she entered the Congregation of the Felician Sisters on Aug. 15, 1948. At the investiture ceremonies in 1949, she received the name Sr. Mary Virginia. First profession of vows was in 1950, and final profession in 1956.

Sr. Gola received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Madonna University and a Master of Arts from Siena Heights College in Adrian. During her first 33 years in the ministry of education as a primary school teacher, Sr. Gola was assigned to St. Andrew, St. Louis the King, St. Albertus, Sacred Heart, St. Hyacinth  and Help of Christians — all in Detroit; St. Joseph, Jackson; St. Thecla, Mount Clemens; and St. Florian,  Hamtramck.

An urgent situation in the family interrupted the course of her life, and Sr. Gola changed from educator to caregiver of her younger sister, Mary, who was mentally challenged from birth and required constant care. When her mother, Agatha, was no longer able to care for Mary, Sr. Gola accomplished this task with love, kindness, care and compassion, as well as caring for her aging mother.

After the death of her mother and sister, Sr. Gola returned to education, teaching third grade at Our Lady of Refuge School, Orchard Lake. The following year, Sr. Gola was assigned principal at St. Stephen, New Boston, a ministry she effectively served from 1996-2007, before beginning a three-year assignment as director of religious education and pastoral minister at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Wyandotte.

She is survived by three sisters, Antonina Zbikowski, Theresa Maslowski and Sophie Balinski and many nephews and nieces.

The Mass of Resurrection was celebrated by Fr. Salvino Briffa on May 17 in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel of the Felician Sisters Central Convent, Livonia. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.