Obituary of Virginia Marie Tennyson

Virginia Marie Tennyson, age 91, of Olympia, Washington, died at Providence St. Peter Hospital on October 18, 2014. She was born August 16, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Peter and Hilda (Wilwerding) Tennyson. Virginia Marie joined St. Benedict’s Convent in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and made her Monastic Profession as Sister Pernel on July 11, 1943. She taught for several years in Minnesota before arriving in Tacoma, Washington, in 1949. She completed her B. A. at Holy Names College, her Teacher Certification, M. Ed. and Principal’s Credentials at Seattle University. As Sister Pernel, Virginia served the church in the Pacific Northwest as a teacher at Holy Rosary School, Visitation School, St. Ann’s School, Aquinas High School, and Bellarmine High School, all in Tacoma. Virginia Marie felt the need to formally separate from St. Placid Priory in 1975. She continued teaching at Bellarmine High School where she delighted in introducing her students to her favored subjects of Religion and English. She also enjoyed running the Bellarmine bookstore and served as the head of the English Department. She retired in 1986. Virginia loved her Benedictine spirituality, remaining committed to praying the Liturgy of the Hours on a daily basis. She became an Oblate of St. Placid Priory in May of 2000. Her parents and her brother Richard preceded her in death. Surviving are her two brothers, Walter Tennyson of Mt. Dora, Florida, and Robert Tennyson of Incline Village, Nevada; and many nieces and nephews. Please leave memories of Virginia or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.