VIRGINIA MAY MOIOLA

1926 - 2017

Virginia Moiola, 90, passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 5th in her home in Brawley. She was born July 8, 1926 in Santa Ana, California to Michael J. and Mary Nichols. Virginia lived in Huntington Beach, CA, where she attended grammar school and Huntington High. She played the clarinet in the high school band. After graduation, she attended Fullerton Jr. College majoring in business, and worked for the Edison Co. On July 7, 1945 Virginia married her high school sweetheart James R. Moiola of Talbert (Fountain Valley). They were married in the Church of the Messiah Episcopal Church, Santa Ana. In 1946, they moved to the Imperial Valley and lived on the Gonder Ranch in the Magnolia District, where James began farming. They had their first two children, Lynda and Tom, who attended Magnolia School. In 1958, they built a home in Brawley. Later that year their son David was born. In 1962 James and his brothers Lawrence and Fred started Moiola Bros Feedlot. James and Virginia were married 62 years when James passed away on July 8, 2007. Virginia continued to live in their home until a fire burned their home on December 23, 2012. She lived with her son Tom and his wife Laura for three months before moving into her current home in Brawley. Virginia was an active member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Brawley, Pioneer Memorial Hospital Auxiliary (50 yrs.), P.E.O. Chapter BS (47 yrs.), Imperial Valley Historical Society, past member of Del Rio Country Club, and Brawley Women's Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, James R. Moiola; parents, Michael J. and Mary Nichols. She is survived by her daughter, Lynda Moiola; sons, Tom (Laura) Moiola, David (Linda) Moiola of Brawley; brother, John M. (Genie) Nichols, Yorba Linda; grandchildren, Shaeley Franks, Jill (Joe) Murphy, James T. (Veronica) Moiola, John (Ayron) Moiola; great-grand children, Brenna and Brett Berker, Olivia Murphy, Jayden Moiola, and Ellie and John David II Moiola. Virginia is also survived by her cousin, Julie Hannah of Roxbury, Massachusetts, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family is forever grateful to Maria Pacheco and her sister Cecilia Moreno for their faithful, dedicated loving care of Virginia. A Memorial service will be held Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Frye Chapel, Brawley. Memorials may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church, Brawley, Pioneers Memorial Hospital, or Imperial Valley Historical Society.