Virginia Ethel McDermott

Fairbanks - Virginia, known as Jini, left this world to become part of the stardust of the cosmos on January 22, 2026 after a full life of 96 years. Jini lived most of her life in Quincy, MA and relocated to Fairbanks, Alaska after she lost her husband. She was the first of her family to go to college and received a BA in Art from Boston University. She went on to become an elementary and secondary art teacher in the Quincy Public Schools, which she found so rewarding that she continued teaching until she was 73.

Jini met the love of her life, Joseph McDermott early on, and together they shared almost 60 years that included a life living close to nature; adventures traveling the world; studying psychology and the history of religions; following her spiritual path thru the Quincy First Parish Church Unitarian and The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks; and, her ultimate joy, raising her two children and, in her later years, spending time with her family as a grandmother and great grandmother.

Jini will be remembered for her sense of humor, loving smile, commitment to social justice, and her continued sense of gratitude, wonder, and appreciation. She was predeceased by her son Joseph James (Chip) and her sister Betty Ann. She is survived by her daughter Marlene McDermott, granddaughters Amanda Gillis, Emma Boone & Lyra Boone, nieces Kathy Rapp & Linda Gilman, as well as four great granddaughters (Kinley, Brooke, Willow, and Jade) and two great grandsons (Quinn and Ty).