A. Virginia “Ginny” Stanard

Born: Nov. 12, 1923
Died: Dec. 21, 2011

A. Virginia "Ginny" Stanard of Lutheran Hillside Village Health Center, formally of West Peoria, passed away from congestive heart and kidney failures on Dec. 21, 2011, at age 88.

She was the only child born to Herbert H. Goldstein and Margaret Eilts Goldstein Gibbens on Nov. 12, 1923, in Peoria. Her widowed mother remarried later in life, and she was adopted at age 8 by Paul K. Gibbens, her mother's second husband. Ginny married Robert C. Stanard on April 27, 1946, in Peoria. He died on July 20, 1970, in Peoria. One daughter, Cynthia Kean, and one grandson, Robbie Stanard, also preceded her in death.

Surviving are Cindy's son, Paul Kean; Virginia's sons John Paul (Nancy) of Chicago and his daughters Monica and Amanda; Michael (Carol) of Pekin, and their children Sara and Jeff; Stephen (Cathy) of Los Angeles.

Also surviving are her daughter, Laurel (Larry) Flinn of Batavia and their children Kelley, Bryan and Kevin and her great-grandchildren Jacub, Maya, Orin, and Lila. Nephews Mark and Scott Stanard and nieces Debbie Burns and Dee Dee Margenthaler, their sons and daughters, and family Jerry and MaryJo Callahan also survive along with the loving caregivers at LHV who treated Ginny as their own. Her smile, sense of humor and positive attitude will be cherished and remembered by those who knew her.

Ginny attended Bradley University, worked at Gibby's Pharmacy on Bradley's campus for many years and after Bob's passing she was the attendance clerk at Bergan High School. She later worked for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria as secretary for the Office of Family Life for 17 years. She was a longtime member of St. Mark's Catholic Church, their Women's Group, The Catholic Women's League, St. Francis Auxiliary and volunteered at the Westminster/St. Mark's Food Pantry. She loved attending theatrical productions with her girlfriends and to watch her grandchildren perform on stage and on the ballfield. She was an avid Cubs fan and was looking forward to the 2012 season.

Virginia's visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Waters of Life Chapel at Lutheran Hillside Village, 6901 N. Galena Road, Peoria, and the funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., all on Jan. 7, 2012. Following this service, burial will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery in West Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lutheran Hillside Village Health Center at the above address. Specify "Physical Therapy Dept." or "Activities Fund."

Tributes and condolences may be submitted to www.wrightandsalmon.com.