Virginia Balducci

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Mary Virginia Wachendorfer Kelly Balducci, 94, of Newberry, SC, danced into the arms of Jesus on November 16, 2013. She was born to the late Clara and Charles Wachendorfer on January 28, 1919, in Joliet, IL. She married the late Michael C. Kelly on April 6, 1941 and they made their home in Joliet. Virginia began teaching ballet, tap and jazz in her home during high school and then she and her husband, Mike, opened the Kelly School of Dance. For a half century, she brought the joy of dance to many young lives and shared this joy with her daughters and the entire Joliet community. Virginia and Mike moved to Augusta, GA in 1984 to be close to their daughter, Pat, and their grandchildren. They enjoyed traveling and volunteering together until Mike's death in 1987. On April 3, 1997, she married the late Umberto J. Balducci, Jr. and they brought great joy to each other's lives until his death in 1999. Virginia loved to travel, read, play cards, spend time with her family, crochet and take care of her cats. When she was younger, she also loved horseback riding and camping. She was a faithful Catholic and she had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In her early years in Augusta, Virginia volunteered with the Soup Kitchen, Meals on Wheels and the Catholic Social Apostolate. In 2010, she moved to Newberry, SC to be closer to her daughter, Kitty. Virginia is survived by four daughters: Patricia "Pat" (Don) McArdle of Augusta, GA; Kitty Kelly (Bob) Wilson of Prosperity, SC; Michelle "Mickey" (Chuck) Lubeck of Augusta, GA; and Kristie (Gary) Morand of Tampa, FL. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Eric McArdle, Kerry McArdle Rhodes, Shauna McArdle Occhipinti, Kyle McArdle, Liam McArdle, Tricia McArdle Sherman, Ryan McArdle, Brigid McArdle Paulk, Anna McArdle, Nathan, Joshua, Claire, and Joseph Lubeck, and Brian Morand. She is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren. Virginia's family will be receiving friends on Wednesday, evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Thomas Poteet & Son with a vigil beginning at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, November 21 at The Church of the Most Holy Trinity at 12:15 p.m. with Fr. John Lyons as the celebrant and Fr. Jacek Szuster concelebrating. A burial will be held at a later date at Resurrection Cemetery in Lockport, IL. Memorial contribution may be made to The Church of the Most Holy Trinity at 720 Telfair St., Augusta, GA 30901 or to Pawmetto Lifeline at 1275 Bower Parkway, Columbia, SC 29212. Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com.