Virginia "Ginny" Mae Lamendola

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved mother Ginny (Virginia Mae) Lamendola. Mom left us peacefully December 14, 2025.

Ginny was born in Rockford, Illinois on March 7, 1933, where she grew up with her large family. The youngest of five Bardelli children, she lived on First Street and was a parishioner of St. James Catholic Church where she went to grade school. Later, she attended Muldoon High School. Shortly after graduation, she met our father, John Lamendola, and they were married. They had a family of three children, Laurie, Steve and Tom, and a household of pets.

Mom and Dad enjoyed a full life together, honored with a multitude of friends, especially Rockford Firemen, as Dad spent most of his career with the department. They enjoyed travel and eventually moved to Arizona where they lived for 36 years.

Mom leaves behind many friends including her Shawl Ministry Group from Holy Spirit Church in Tempe, dear friends Billie, Lil and Louise and Mary Jane.

She is preceded by her husband John, parents Stephen and Josephine Bardelli, sister Elizabeth and husband Danny Veruchi, brother Ambrose and his wife Mary Lou Bardelli, sister Ann Marie (Honey) and husband Tom Gambini, and sister Annabelle (Toots) Fair and husband Bill, as well as many other relatives and close friends.

Ginny had a full life celebrated with her immediate family-daughter Laurel and husband Robert Bennett and their three children. Alexander (Tiffany) and great grand daughter Camellia. Jonathan (Valentina) and great grand daughter Olivia Luna. Stephanie and husband Jay Shiao. Sons Stephen, and Thomas and grandchildren Nicolas and Isabella.

She also held her nieces and nephews dear to her heart, with their thoughtful cards, photos and phone calls, especially, Nancy and Huffer Gough and family, Stewart and Cathy Magnuson and family, Denise and Sandy Gayle and honorary grandson, Seth, Linda and Sam (deceased) Frisella, Joanne and Jim (deceased) Veruchi and family, Diane Sment (deceased) and family.

A memorial celebration will be held at Sunset Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Loves Park at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 3 where mom and dad will finally join in eternal peace.

Memorials can be shared with St. Jude's Research Hospital for Children, one of mom's favorite charities.