Violena Constancia Sulzberger "Vi" was born April 3, 1936 in Colon, Panama. On February 12, 2017 she became an angel and went to be with the Lord so that she could continue to watch over and love her family from heaven. Before her transformation into an angel, she married Lewis Paul Sulzberger, Jr. and spent most of her days in Hampton, Virginia. During her time on earth, she gave birth to two children, Dorothy M. Eure (wife of Todd and parent to Rachael and Isabelle), and Paula J. Sulzberger. Her days on earth were joyful, in spite of the obstacles she faced along the way. She moved to Virginia to become a nurse, found love along t he way, marrying Paul and devoting her life to him, giving up the country she had known as a child, the chance to visit daily with her parents, See Chein Chin and Chong Chi Chin, and opportunity to share daily laughs with her brothers and sisters with whom she shared friendship and love, (Tony Chin, Lola Lew, Estela Lee, Chris Chin, and Agustin Chin), to give herself over to this new life and love. Challenges beset her in her new life with her new husband when her youngest daughter, Paula, born healthy and vibrant, suffered brain damage stemming from a high fever and consequent convulsions at the age of 13 months. Instead of losing herself to grief and despair, Vi took every step she could to find help for her youngest baby and help her child to live her life to the fullest. It was Vi's love and devotion to Paula that helped her to find a wonderful home from Paula to live when Vi and Paul could no longer care for Paula themselves. Each day was a new opportunity to love her family and care for her children and husband. Vi was a devout Catholic and relied on her faith in God and the grace from angels to lift her up on days when others may have faltered. Within a year of Paula's illness, Vi was tested again when her husband, Paul, a roofer and volunteer fireman with the Phoebus Company, had a terrible accident, fell from a roof, and became a paraplegic. Again, Vi turned to God for strength, loved her husband and her family, and continued to be the example of an angel on earth. She cared for Paul, helped him to continue to be the strong man he always was, and still is, and loved her family in the practical way that mothers and wives do, day by day. Along the way, she clipped coupons, used a lot of plastic wrap to protect household items from dust, took copious notes on each and every household expenditure, visited Costco frequently and joyfully, bought way too much stuff in bulk, and invested in more rosaries than a single person should have in one place. She is now watching over us, her transformation into an angel complete, her joy in having met Jesus overwhelming. Her family and friends are grateful for their chance to meet an angel in the making. Family will visit with friends from 5-7pm Wednesday at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Ave., Hampton. Vi's Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 Noon Thursday, February 16, 2017 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 512 Buckroe Ave., Hampton, to be followed by burial at Parklawn Memorial Park, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton. After interment, the family will meet with friends and family at the St. Joseph's Cordier Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Vi's honor to Versability Resources, 2520 58th St., Hampton, VA 23661.