Virginia Edwards

Virginia (Ginny) Martha Edwards passed away peacefully at the end of November 2022, having been able to spend the past several years near her loving daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law, and granddog. Though dementia gradually limited her abilities, Ginny's strength of spirit, love of life, and optimism shone through to the end, and she will be deeply missed.

Ginny was born in 1942 in Danbury, Connecticut. She grew up in a family of limited means, learning from an early age a self-discipline that she would carry throughout her life and teach her daughter. Her mother and father passed away when Ginny was only 20, within a week of each other, leaving her not only to fend for herself but also to help raise her younger brother, Paul, who predeceased her.

With characteristic fortitude, Ginny finished college at the University of Connecticut and went to work for the New York City welfare department for ten years to save enough money to put herself through law school. Ginny went on to earn her JD from Fordham Law School at a time when the professors, including hers, were telling the class that the women in the room were taking a spot from a man who should have been there instead. She continued to break through glass ceilings in her career, fighting her way up the ladder of 1980s and 1990s law firm culture to become the first female partner at her firm.

While in law school, Ginny met fellow student and Vietnam veteran Howard Pitt, whom she would soon marry. Ginny and Howard bought a home in Westwood, New Jersey, and their daughter was born soon thereafter. While they divorced after just a few years, Ginny and Howard maintained a friendship that not only nurtured their daughter but would prove a comfort to both of them as they aged. Howard predeceased Ginny eight years ago.

While her daughter was Ginny's pride and joy, she also cherished pets throughout her life. A long line of cats and dogs-Muffy, Ruffy, Foxy, Buddy, Kitty, Angel-brought cheerfulness and love to her home and were truly loved. They are no doubt covering her with kisses as you read this remembrance of her.

Many of us, beset by the challenges of Ginny's life, would have given up; but she never did. She possessed a steely inner strength, grit, incredible work ethic, and a dogged self-discipline and fierceness that allowed her to face each day determined to march forward. She used to motivate herself to deal with whatever challenge she was facing at the moment by saying: it's either going to be that thing or me, and it's not going to me!

But alongside this determination and hard work, Ginny proactively sought joy. Her house and garden were full of cheerful and cozy colors, flowers, patterns, and pets. She was always excited to get a hot fudge sundae, see the latest movie and Broadway musical, and travel to a beautiful place. She used to say, "why do we work so hard if not to enjoy it?" She used to encourage her daughter to see the world as her family, to be curious about others and recognize the common humanity we all share, and to be kind to everyone, especially those no one else was being kind to.

We will fondly remember the joyful times we shared with Ginny, along with the strength that made them possible. And we will honor the legacy she modeled - to be able to face the realities of life head-on with courage, perseverance, joy, and hope.

Ginny was interred in December, 2022, with a private ceremony at Newton Cemetery in Newton, Massachusetts.