Virginia Ackalitis

Mrs. Virginia Karen Andersen Ackalitis, age 73, of Monroe, NC, passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at Accordius Health of Monroe. 

A virtual memorial service in Virginia's honor will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, January 30, 2021. Contact info@davisfuneralservice.com for login information.

Virginia was born October 27, 1947 in Staten Island, NY, the daughter of the late Clifford Edward Andersen and Victoria Virginia Venditti. Virginia attended Tottenville High School and graduated from New Dorp High School. Virginia's life was forever changed one evening on the Staten Island Ferry. Virginia always took the ferry with her brother Clifford, and for many trips she exchanged glances with a sharp dressed man with French cuffs who always sat in the same seat. One night, Virginia approached the gentlemen and commented that he had changed from his usual seat. He stood up to offer the seat to her, as he always claimed he heard her say that she wanted his seat. She repeated to him that she had noticed he changed from his usual seat, and that is when the love story between Virginia and Albert John Ackalitis began. Shortly after that course changing night, Albert asked for Virginia's hand in marriage. In 1967, they were married by the Justice of the Supreme Court for the First Judicial District, Samuel M. Gold. Justice Gold informed the couple that no marriage he ever officiated ended in divorce, and they were not to break his record of success. Virginia had been involved in beauty pageants, and had the opportunity to move to California for a professional modeling career, but chose marriage instead. The vows they exchanged before Justice Gold and the love they had for one another remained strong throughout their lives together, as they were married until Mr. Ackalitis' passing. The couple remained living in Staten Island until 1979 when they moved to Jackson, NJ, where they lived until their move to Monroe, NC in 1992. They loved together, lived together, and were even baptized together in 2003. Although she left New York before the 1980's, she was a lifelong New York Rangers and New York Giants fan that "bled blue".

Virginia worked as an executive assistant for many years, but her true passion was her family and her animals. She loved all creatures from an early age and always had pets; cats, dogs, and a parrot named Chirper. She also loved quarter-horses and had three of her own, which she enjoyed riding with friends. Her love for animals was one of the many things she passed down to her daughter and grandson. Virginia was also a master baker, with a cheesecake recipe loved by everyone. She enjoyed traveling and going for a drive. Anything in life that she experienced, she found beauty and enjoyment in. Virginia had a laugh that filled many rooms and hearts with joy, a smile that lit up any room she graced, and provided a hug with such warmth and love it was difficult to ever let go. She loved old movies with the great actors of the past. She also loved oldies music, especially Elvis. But everyone around Virginia agreed; she was a star in her own right with a legacy that will carry on through many generations. She adopted many people as family; Donna McCurdy was a daughter, Travis Edward McCurdy was a grandson, Kristen Ashley McCurdy was a granddaughter, Sara Nicole McCurdy was a granddaughter, and Rene Emil Grundstrom was a grandson that loved her and helped take care of her in her later years. All of her "adopted" family lovingly referred to her as mom and grandma. 

Left to survive and carry on Virginia's incredible memories are her daughter, Virginia Karen Ackalitis Saccone, her grandson and second love of her life, Victor James Saccone, her brother, Clifford Ronald Andersen (Eileen), nephews Clifford Andersen (Sharon) and Carl Andersen (Lisa), niece Jennifer Zecca (Frank) as well as many close friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death and reunited in eternal life with her husband, Albert John Ackalitis. 

Davis Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Ackalitis. Please leave your words of comfort and remembrance at www.davisfuneralservice.com/obituary/Virginia-Ackalitis  

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