RIO - Virginia "Ma" Staveness, 80, of Rio, passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, June 21, 2009.

She was born in Columbus on Nov. 18, 1928, to the late John and B. Elizabeth Kennedy Doherty. After graduation from Rio High School, Virginia worked as a bookkeeper at both Damler Produce and the Columbus/Fall River Co-op. She married Kenneth J. Staveness Sr. on July 8, 1961, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Doylestown, the same church she was baptized and confirmed in. After Ken completed his military career, including two tours of Vietnam and one in Korea, he and Virginia moved back home to Rio to raise their family. She drove school bus for Rio High School for many years. She was a member of the Rio Legion Auxiliary, Our Lady Rosary Makers of Rockford, Ill.; a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rio and the National Catholic Society of Foresters, Court No. 571. She was extremely proud of her Irish heritage.

She is survived by her sons, Kenneth J. Staveness Jr. (Wendie) of Rio and John (Lisa) of Sturgeon Bay; daughter, Virginia E. Staveness of Rio, with whom she made her home; grandchildren, Adam, Jeremy (Katie), Shaun, Josh, Jessica, Stanley, Christopher (Mindy Otto) and Brianna; brother-in-law, Henry Staveness of Portage; sister-in-laws, Elva (John) Christopher of Baraboo and Edna Staveness of Beaver Dam; extended family, Vonda (Brian) Benson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and good friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband on July 18, 1999; son, James Staveness; daughter-in-law, Penny Staveness; sister, Lucille Vangen-Vinge; brothers-in-law, Oscar, Arthur, Hans, Clarence, John, Donald and Clifford; and sisters-in-law, Maida, Mary and Daisy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Doylestown. Father Raymond Dischler will preside. Friends may call on the family for visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Church. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Rio. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Virginia's name be made to the St. Joseph's Ramp project or to the local food pantry. Smith-Vangen Funeral Home, 401 Angel Way, Rio, is serving the family.