Virginia I. Grimm

Virginia (Ginny) I.

Grimm

Virginia (Ginny) I. Grimm passed away on December 15, 2010 surrounded by her adoring family after a long illness.

Ginny is survived by her devoted husband of 65 years, Eugene (Gene) L. Grimm Sr., and their four loving children, Eugene Jr., Patricia, John, Thomas (and wife Janet). Ginny was a beloved grandmother of six: Therese Horning (husband Jake), Michael and David Cacciapaglia, and Kasey, Meghan and Tori Grimm. Ginny was born on May 29, 1925 in Windom, Minnesota. She always cherished her childhood growing up on the family farm with her four sisters. After graduating from Mankato Teacher's College, Ginny taught in a one-room schoolhouse. She married Gene in 1945. After living in Minnesota and Washington, the family moved to Wilmington in 1962.

The Grimms joined Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish ("IHM"), Ginny's spiritual home. Ginny taught CCD, led the Girl Scouts and volunteered at the school. After raising her children, Ginny devoted herself to her Church and community. She served on the IHM Parish Council and was the first female Trustee of IHM. Ginny organized the first IHM Social Concerns Committee and the first IHM Outreach Office. Ginny and Gene were Co-Chairs of the IHM Expansion Committee in charge of raising funds and building IHM's new church, consecrated in 1990. Ginny worked on the project for eight years. For six years, Ginny was costume designer for the then-annual IHM Passion Play.

Ginny volunteered at the Ministry of Caring (MOC) since its inception in 1976. She coordinated the initial lunch program for the Emmanuel Dining Room, and for twenty years Ginny coordinated the Breakfast Program at EDR West. Ginny served a term as President of the MOC Guild, and produced the MOC Cookbook, raising $20,000. In 1995, Ginny received the MOC Wooden Bread Award, and in 2007, she received the Sr Ann Marguerite Gildea Award for service to the poor. Ginny served on the board of Bayard House, a home for disadvantaged pregnant women, speaking at twelve parishes to raise funds. Ginny worked with women with AIDS at Mother Teresa's Gift of Mary in Chester. Ginny worked in Catholic prison ministry at Baylor Prison for Women. In 2006, Ginny received the Diocesan Order of Merit from the Diocese of Wilmington, and the Local Hero Award in 2007 from the Bank of America. In 2010, Ginny and Gene received the Monsignor Paul Taggart Award from the St Thomas More Society of Wilmington for community service. She was nominated four times for the Jefferson Award, and once for the United Way Volunteer of the Year.

The family would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Forwood Manor and Delaware Hospice for their loving and considerate care.

A Funeral Vigil Service and Viewing will take place at CHANDLER FUNERAL HOME, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington from 3 to 5 pm on Sunday December 19th. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary, 4701 Weldin Road, Liftwood, at 11 am Monday December 20, preceded by a Viewing at 10 am. Interment will follow Mass at St. Joseph's on the Brandywine, Greenville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given in Ginny's name to the Ministry of Caring, Inc, Wilmington, DE. For online condolences,

please visit

www.chandlerfuneralhome.com

(302) 478-7100