Virginia Eleanor McGrath passed away on June 1, 2025. Ginny was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Marion McGrath, her four siblings, Louis McGrath, Marion Griffin, Edmund McGrath, and Pauline Thomas, and her nephew, Edmund McGrath Jr.
Ginny is survived by her best friend of 56 years, Martha Thomas, nieces and nephews Jeff Cochran (Jan), Raymond Cochran, Mark Cochran, Craig Thomas, Allison Smith (Rich), Heather Thomas, and Kelly McGrath, and 14 grandnieces and grandnephews. For those who knew her as more of a grandmother, she was Grand-Ginny.
Ginny was born on November 24, 1939, in Newton, Massachusetts, where she grew up. The middle child of five, Ginny was a rebel. She often told very tall tales of her naughtiness, bragging about her ability to survive smoking, drinking and driving before any of it was legal for her! During her childhood, her large extended, Irish-Catholic family was very close, and they all lived within walking distance of 5 Park Place, the legendary (although some would say notorious) family home, a place she would return several times over her life, regardless of who lived there. She would knock on the door and introduce herself. Ginny had very fond memories of the “good ole times.”
Ginny placed a high value on education, and spent most of her life learning, always wanting to know the how and why. She was a graduate of Newton High School, Newton Junior College, the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania (BBA Marketing and Management), and St. Joseph’s University (MBA). Ginny spent the majority of her business career in hospital administration and blood laboratories at Newton Welsey Hospital, Havard Medical Center, and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. God help the medical professionals who cared for Ginny over the years – she always insisted on knowing where they went to school and interned.
Ginny reinvented herself in midlife, leaving the big city life for a slower pace in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. After retiring from the medical field, she became the co-owner of the Black Forest Inn in Adamstown, PA, and legal guardian of her nephew, Edmund. What goes around comes around, because he gave her a taste of her own rebellious past behavior. It was during this period that, “Ginny’s way or the highway” became part of the family folklore. Ginny loved to give advice – and she was always right. During her time in Adamstown, Ginny was very active in local politics, charities, and was an integral member of the Adamstown Friends of the Library.
Ginny spent her later years in Lewes Delaware, where she made lots of friends and spent her time volunteering, walking the boards, reading, and enjoying the ocean. She eventually relocated to the Charlestown Senior Living Community in Catonsville, MD.
Ginny was a lover of life. She had an infectious sense of joy and a laugh that could be heard from afar. She had an unquenchable sense of adventure. Ginny was a boat owner, licensed pilot, motorcyclist (with a side car for wingmen), fisherwoman, gambler, and an avid traveler. Ginny rarely turned down an opportunity to experience a new adventure. If that adventure required a second person, she had no qualms about signing you up, with or without your knowledge.
Ginny was a collector – antiques, coins, books, friends, experiences, knowledge, stories, classic cars, houses, misfits, and cats. Oh, the cat obsession! Ginny was an unapologetic lover of cats (at one time owning five) and nonbeliever of “cat allergies,” despite the many family members who had to self-medicate if visiting her home for more than an hour. She was a staunch believer in equal rights, advocating for and donating to women in all areas of life. She wanted a woman president - and priest. This is not to say she didn’t care for men, oh she did, especially the cute ones! Just ask any gentleman – both related and not – who had their behinds pinched by Gin. #metoo #baseballbutts Ginny loved sports and had an astonishing knowledge of history, statistics, and strategies pertaining to baseball and football. She was a life-long Red Sox fan, and much to the chagrin of her New England family, loved the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ginny will be greatly missed, but never, ever forgotten.
Ginny will be laid to rest beside her parents in Newton, MA and a celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Viginia Eleanor McGrath, please visit our flower store.