Filipina nurse killed in Chicago

Virginia “Virgie” Perillo, a longtime Filipino American registered nurse, was found severely beaten in her Bridgeport, Chicago home Saturday and died from her injuries the next day at the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital.

Perillo, who just turned 73 on October 10, was found by a next-door neighbor inside the garage behind her home in the 3300 block of South Parnell Avenue about 10:10 p.m. Saturday, according to police.

Investigators said the garage door was open, and Perillo was found bloodied and lying facedown on the ground between two cars. Police said she may have been robbed.

Her eldest son, John, told the Chicago Tribune that one of the cars was still running, and the driver’s side was open.

John said his mother, who has worked 40 years at the Rush University Medical Center located about four miles from her home, had been out most of Saturday visiting his father Mauro who has been confined at Rush following a stroke a few week earlier.

He said his mom was a devoted mother and husband who also loved her hospital job.

“She loved [nursing]; it was her life and her passion,” John told the Tribune. “When she had to work, she worked those extra hours just to help the other patients. She was dedicated.”

Cris Lowry, the victim’s hospital colleague, said Perillo took great pride about her job as a nurse.

“[Virgie] would always say that it was an honor to be a nurse. She said she was very fortunate to be able to be a nurse,” Lowry said. “We will sorely miss her.”

Lowry said Perillo had worked in intensive care units throughout the hospital, considered the most demanding hospital job. Lately, she has worked in the oncology department where she tended to cancer patients with compassion and personal touch.

According to Lowry, Perillo served as a mentor to younger nurses and always reminded them the importance of treating everyone with compassion and respect.

“If patients needed their hands held, she was at their bedside. If they needed someone to listen to their fears, she was there,” Lowry said.

“She taught us how to treat the patients as though they were our own families,” Lowry added. “She made them feel the personal touch.”

Such is her passion for her nursing vocation that on her days off from Rush, Virgie moonlighted at other hospitals, her son John said.

“We wanted Mom to retire, but she always said she’s enjoying her job, helping the sick,” he said

The Perillo couple immigrated to the United States some 40 years ago and raised a family of three boys — John, Mark and Michael — in the Chicago area. Virgie and Mauro have lived in their Bridgeport home for 25 years, according to family members.

John recalls that his mom would spend several days a week to baby-sit and dote on her 13-month-old grandson, Matthew. On her birthday, two weeks before her death, the family gathered at the Bridgeport home to celebrate.

“She was really happy and in good spirits,” John said.

The spouses Virginia were also active members of the St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish, which is just about a mile away from their home.

According to John Perillo, he was surprised by the attack because the neighborhood has generally been safe.