Elizabeth Piecek

Elizabeth Rose Piecek’s (Sutherland) Life Journey ended late Friday, October 29th, 2021 – just days shy of her 102nd birthday.

Born in Petersburg, Virginia, to the late Mary Josephine Seidel and Joseph Piecek, she was predeceased by sister, Catherine P. Mach; brothers, Leo, Joseph, and Charles Piecek; nephew, Brian Thomas Mach, and niece, Angela M. Connelly.

Elizabeth grew up in Richmond, was graduated from St. Joseph Academy, and completed her education at St. Vincent Hospital in Norfolk where she received her RN certification.

She remained in Norfolk to begin her nursing career; soon thereafter she made the decision to join the US Army as the WAC had recently been created. After serving several Hospital Stations along the East coast, she was assigned to a Triage unit in Brazil, SA to treat the wounded soldiers brought in from the battlefields. Toward the end of the war, Elizabeth completed her military duty on the Hospital Train based in Staten Island, NY, returning soldiers to home places.

Once separated from the Army, she returned to nursing at the Norfolk St. Vincent Hospital she left. She felt the need and wanted to continue to help the veterans, and within years moved to McGuire Hospital (Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center today) in Richmond. The last leg of Elizabeth’s career found her at Kenner Army Hospital, Ft. Lee VA, from where she retired after approximately four decades of nursing care.

For several years in her retirement, Elizabeth enjoyed traveling the world visiting many countries on different continents. But a strong calling to tend to the wounded, healing, and recovering veterans was nagging. She found herself drawn back to    McGuire VA Hospital every week as a volunteer. Nearly a 50-year member of the American Legion, Elizabeth joined with the Legion members who traveled weekly to the Richmond facility to work with the veterans. She continued these visits well in her nineties.

A devout Catholic and faithful steward of St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Elizabeth served as Eucharistic Minister for many years, making time for visiting the sick and home-bound, and taking them Communion.

Loved by many, she will be missed. Immediate survivors saying good-bye include Bernadette M Rouse and Thomas of Johns Creek, GA, Andrea M Slatinsky and David of Eads TN, and Stanley F Mach and Susan of Concord, NC.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, November 8th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church 7310 Squirrel Level Road, Petersburg. Funeral arrangements made by the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834

If you would like to remember Elizabeth beyond prayers, donations may be made in her memory to American Legion Post 284, POB 57, Colonial Heights, VA 23834-0057, or St John’s Catholic Church Cemetery, 7310 Squirrel Level Road, Petersburg, VA 23805.