Virginia Carol (Smith) Haley-Kanigel Nagel
August 8, 1943 - January 5, 2024
It is with great sadness and enormous gratitude that we announce the passing of Virginia Carol (Smith) Haley-Kanigel Nagel on January 5th, 2024. She was born the eldest of six children on August 8th, 1943 to the late Thomas Emmett and Virginia Belle Smith of Aurora, Illinois. She was a proud graduate of the all-girls Catholic Madonna High school in Aurora and St. Louis University. Virginia was an accomplished Physical Therapist, mastering her craft in a career that spanned more than fifty years.
Virginia created a strong community of friends wherever she went and loved to connect and “talk story” with all. Her passions extended to travel, gardening, long walks, and shopping local farmers markets. She had great appreciation for a strong Americano and a nice glass of wine!
After surviving two husbands, Tom Haley and Dave Kanigel, Virginia reconnected with her high-school sweetheart, Ken Nagel in 2020. They rekindled their relationship and married in October of 2022, in Plano, Illinois, not far from where they grew up during their high school years.
Virginia was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. She fought bravely with chemotherapy, radiation, and a mastectomy and lumpectomy, but the cancer recently returned in an aggressive form. After careful consideration, Virginia refused further treatment and courageously chose to leave this life on her own terms. She was surrounded by family in her final weeks and passed peacefully at the home she shared with Ken in Plano.
Virginia’s deep kindness, natural curiosity, sincere interest in everyone she met, and fierce independence will be greatly missed by the many she touched, and she will continue to serve as an inspiration to those of us who knew her best.
She is survived by her three daughters, Shannan Gabrielle Whalen, Virginia McGrath Onstott, and Erin Haley-Wright; two stepdaughters, Kim Kanigel-Winner and Kara Copanas; six adoring grand-children, Jack and Taylor Onstott, Ryan, Connor, and Hudson Whalen, and Taavi Winner; husband, Ken Nagel; and siblings, Marci Hoffner, Tom Smith, Sue Gleason, Ruth Coan, and Terri Drahn.
Virginia will be celebrated in Kona, Hawaii early this summer. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please donate in Virginia Haley-Kanigel’s name to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at bcrf.org. Please see Caringbridge.com for more details.