Mary Calista Loes DiGiulian, 95, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 11. Born on April 10, 1920 in Emery, SD to the late Anthony and Minnie Wagner Loes, she was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence Umbert DiGiulian, son Mark Frederick DiGiulian and brothers Francis and Frederick Loes and sisters Dorothy Leitheiser, Rose Wood and Teresa Dillinger.
She is survived by her children Mary DiGiulian of Charlottesville; Anita Sutherland of Warrenton; Juliet White and her husband, Gregory of Chesterfield, Va.; Anthony DiGiulian of Chalfont, Pa.; Stephen DiGiulian and his wife, Heidi of Arlington; and Ellen FitzGerald and her husband, Charles of Warrenton; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Raised in Emery, SD, Calista attended St. Martin’s School. Upon graduation she went to business school in Minneapolis. She later accepted a job with the War Department in Washington, D.C. She met her future husband of 48 years at a dinner dance as a blind date.
Calista and Larry settled in Falls Church where they became very active in their community and church and raised their family. A lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church, Calista was active in many organizations including Partners, Call to Action and Voice of the Faithful. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and a generous and kind friend. She was a deeply caring and adventuresome person who was always interested in learning new things.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Murphy’s Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. A mass celebrating Calista’s life will be held at St. James Catholic Church, 905 Park Avenue, Falls Church at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18.
The burial will be immediately following at St. James cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. James Catholic Church or Missionhurst CICM, 4651 N. 25th St., Arlington, VA 22207.
