Virginia "Ginny" Reiser

1942 - 2018

Virginia "Ginny" Reiser 1942 - 2018
Petersburg, IL—Ginny passed away peacefully at 12:19 a.m., Friday, December 7th, at Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Petersburg. She was born on September 26, 1942, to Malcolm and Helen (Myrmel) Trombley in Mount Clemens, Michigan.
Virginia left Michigan to attend St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana. It was there, in April of 1961, she met her future husband, Thomas, a student at The University of Notre Dame. Virginia graduated from St. Mary's College on June 6th of 1964, with a degree in Home Economics. After announcing their engagement to their families on graduation weekend, she married Thomas Reiser on August 8, 1964 at St. Peters Catholic Church in Mount Clemens, Michigan.
Ginny spent the first 16 years of her married life lovingly and playfully raising their 4 children along with volunteering for favorite causes and keeping busy as a room mom year after year. In 1980 when her youngest started full day school she enrolled at Sangamon State University (now UIS) and earned a Masters Degree in Legal Studies. During her career, she worked for Menard County Elder Services assisting those in need. She also worked as a paralegal for attorney Nolan Lipsky both in his private practice and in his capacity as Menard County States Attorney. She then served as Chief Probation Officer in Menard County for 13 years, retiring in 2005.
Ginny was a parishioner of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Petersburg, and a member of the Town and Country Women's Club during the era of the Fall Craft Festival and Gingerbread Preschool. An avid reader, she was an active member of various book clubs, she nurtured and shared her love of books with her children and grandchildren. As a Girl Scout, in 1958 Ginny had earned her Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. As an adult, she was always a strong supporter of Scouting, spending time as a leader in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. She served our community as a member of the AAUW, Menard County Home Extension, and The Care Center.
Ginny enjoyed a good book, Notre Dame Football, road trips with Tom, her dog, Maggie, bodies of water of all types, ice cream, Theatre in The Park, a good museum, lunch with girlfriends, and hanging out with the grandkids. Ginny lived a life full of kindness and service to others, and she will be greatly missed by her family and all those whom she loved as if they were family. In the hope of helping others afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, Ginny instructed that her brain be donated to SIU as her final gift for Alzheimer's research.
Virginia is survived by her husband of 54 years, Thomas;, and four children, David (Teresa) Reiser of Petersburg, John (Mary Helen) Reiser of Dania Beach, Florida, Martha L. Reiser of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Paul (Missy) Reiser of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Hannah, Eli, Maureen, Liam, Noah, Ian, Luke; and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as her sister; Judy (Peter) Theut of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Services will be held at St. Peters Catholic Church in Petersburg on Friday, December 21st. The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:45 p.m., with a Funeral Mass to follow at 5:00 p.m. Friends are encouraged to attend the funeral dinner after Mass at St. Peter's Parish Center.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, designated to the SIU School of Medicine Alzheimer Projects, Menard County Food Pantry, or St. Peter's Catholic Church in Petersburg.
Please visit Virginia's online obituary at hurleyfh.com to leave condolences and share memories. Cremation rites accorded by Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg.