Virginia McCaskey was at the center of it all. She was the true matriarch of the organization. On Thursday, the NFL world learned of her passing at the age of 102. She lived about as good of a life as a human being can ask for.

Once upon a time, Virginia McCaskey inherited memorabilia from a cousin, a collection that included a box of old ticket stubs. In it, she said, was a torn admittance to the NFL’s 1932 championship game between the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans.

Remembering Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey who passed away at 102 years old.

Virginia McCaskey preferred the role of cheerleader and caretaker of the Chicago Bears to that of power broker. But nobody made a major decision without first consulting her.

The public will have an opportunity to pay their respects and say goodbye to Virginia Halas McCaskey, the longtime owner and matriarch of the Chicago Bears, who passed away Thursday at the age of 102.

Longtime Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey died at the age of 102, the Bears announced Thursday. For more than four years, McCaskey had been the longest-tenured owner in the NFL. McCaskey is survived by 11 children and more than 40 grandchildren.

Virginia Halas McCaskey was thrust into role as principal owner of the Chicago Bears after the deaths of her brother and father.

Virginia McCaskey, who inherited the Chicago Bears from her father, George Halas, but avoided the spotlight during four-plus decades as principal owner, has died. She was 102. McCaskey’s family announced through the team that she died Thursday. She had owned the Bears since her father’s death on Oct. 31, 1983.

Those hoping to pay respects to longtime Chicago Bears principal owner Virginia McCaskey may do so at a visitation Tuesday in Des Plaines, according to a funeral home announcement. McCaskey, the originally reluctant heir to the NFL franchise that her father,