Virginia M. Backus

April 22, 1925 - April 3, 2022

Virginia M. Backus, of Sterling Heights, passed away at her residence on April 3, 2022 at the age of 96. She was born on April 22, 1925 to Nesralla and Bedelia Solomon in Detroit, Michigan. on August 10, 1946, Virginia married the love of her life, Joseph Backus, in Detroit, Michigan. Together they shared 40 years of marriage, until his passing in 1987. Virginia is the cherished mother of Catherine (Lary) Gregory, Madeline (Dino) Ranella, Carol (Henry) Kolbuch, Joseph (Christine) Backus, and Margaret (Mike) Centers; the loving grandmother of Larry Gregory, Lisa (Aaron) Tischbein, Henry (Tonya) Kolbuch, Benjamin Gregory, Dennis Young, Sheila (Kevin) Burke, John Gregory, Deanna (Jeffrey) Parol, Joseph (Cher) Young, Sherry (Bryan) Mazurkiewicz, Sabrina (John) Lucaj, Marie (Clint) Peacock, Marcia (Jeremy) Walters, Dino (Danielle) Ranella, Joseph (Ashley) Backus, Michelle (Rob) Safina, and Michael (Mandi) Centers; and the adored great-grandmother of Caitlin, Ben, Logan, Cassidy, Alyssa, Ryan, Ellie, Brendan, Leeann, Evan, Hannah, Heather, Talon, Frun, Deda, Katrina, Alexander, Trevor, Haley, Kendall, Janell, Rylee, Payten, Carter, Kailyn, Jaidyn, Colton, Camden, Joseph, and Gavin; the dear grandmother to fifteen great-great-grandchildren; and the beloved sister of Marie Harkenrider and Backus Solomon. Virginia is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, her daughter Bedelia, her son-in-law Dennis, her grandson Timothy, and her siblings Margaret Saad, Elizabeth Pierce, Agnes Judd, and Joseph Solomon. Virginia's family will receive friends for visitation on Sunday, April 10, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a rosary service at 6:00 p.m. at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 8459 Hall Road (3 blocks East of Van Dyke), Utica. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, April 11 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 44633 Utica Road, Utica, instate beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of her mass at 10:00 a.m. Memorials are appreciated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org/tribute. Please share a memory at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com