Virginia M. (Bergman) Aikens

SHREWSBURY – Outside of the classroom Ginny Aikens loved the outdoors. From bird watching in her yard on Boylston Circle to traversing the peaks and valleys of virtually all mountains and trails in her much-loved adopted state of New Hampshire. Her husband and daughter challenged and encouraged her, and she was able to boast she hiked all 48 mountains in New Hampshire with altitudes greater than 4,000 feet. In the winter, she could be found skiing the slopes of Cannon Mountain and Bretton Woods.. Ginny loved being one with nature!

Virginia M. Bergman was born May 2, 1945 in Worcester a daughter of the late Herman and Edith (Anderson) Bergman. Raised in Shrewsbury on Lake Quinsigamond she recalled fondly of her childhood growing up swimming and canoeing on the lake. A graduate of Shrewsbury High School she then earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Worcester State University. She married Stephen W. Aikens on August 14, 1976 in Mount Olivet Lutheran Church.

Ginny enjoyed a long and respected career for over 38 years with the Shrewsbury Public Schools. She began in elementary education at Paton School and later transitioned to teaching math and science at Sherwood Middle, where she was an integral part of the school until enjoying a well-deserved retirement in 2005. Both math and science can be challenging courses for littler minds but Ginny has a unique way of teaching so that the kids not only learned…but had fun while doing it. The influence of a good teacher like Mrs. Aikens will never be erased.

She was an active member and volunteer at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church where her family were founding members. Upon the church closing in 2019, Ginny then transferred to First Congregational Church nearby on Church Road where she knew that while it was perhaps a different denomination of her Protestant faith, she was able to worship the same God with good and faith filled people.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019, life became simpler for Ginny and staying close to home and Steve, her children and granddaughter was all she desired. Ginny died peacefully after a prayer with longtime friend and former pastor, Rev. Cliff Gerber and her family on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. She was 79.

In addition to her husband of 48 years, Steve, she leaves her children, Melissa L. Warnock (Micah) of Durham, New Hampshire and Mark A. Aikens of Hudson; her granddaughter, Linnea Warnock; sister of the late Phillip Bergman (late Dawn); also survived by her brother-in-law, David Aikens of Troy, New York; nieces & nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ginny’s life by gathering on Friday, May 9th for a Morning Wake in the Parlor at First Congregational Church, 19 Church Road, Shrewsbury from 9 - 10 a.m. followed by her funeral service at 10 a.m. in the church. The Rev. Holly MillerShank will officiate. A collation will follow in Gifford Hall. Burial in Mountain View Cemetery is private.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to The Colonial Fund, Shrewsbury Public Schools' Annual Fund, Shrewsbury School Department, 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or https://schools.shrewsburyma.gov/future/donate-now

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.