Virginia (Ginny) O’Neil

Virginia "Ginny" O'Neil died peacefully on July 1, 2025 in the company of her beloved husband, Tom Menihan, and family. To her family and the large community of friends who loved her, Ginny was a dynamic force and influential community member. Her portraits and watercolors were collected by people from around the world and cherished by everyone who was lucky enough to have been the subject of one of her spontaneous sketches. Along with Tom, Ginny created a community of friendship and love wherever they found themselves from Jamaica Plain to Jamaica, West Indies.

Ginny was born and raised in Jamaica Plain by her mother Julia O'Neil (Oliviera), from Madeira, Portugal and her father Daniel ONeil from Gloucester with deep Irish roots. She was one of 12 children, with two brothers (eldest and youngest) and 10 girls born consecutively. Ginny was the seventh child and her stories of growing up in a family of mostly girls were endearing as they were amusing. Her mother, knowing the uniqueness of their family, took pride in making their hand-sewn clothes for the annual Boston Easter parade and the public eagerly watched for them to make their appearance in matching outfits each year. They were so famous that they were once featured in Life magazine and had an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show.

Ginny learned from her mother how to make her own clothes, often recycling clothes and materials into beautiful designs. Her favorite color was purple and it became prominent in her wardrobe. She took up painting with watercolors, capturing people in random life activities. Her portraits captured the essence and personality of her subject. She was a prolific sketcher and instead of keeping these gems, she generously gave the drawings away much to her subject's delight.

Ginny married Ken Canning in 1963 and raised five children, Kenneth Jr, Daniel, Thomas, Ginger and Jenninfer. They divorced and Ginny met the love of her life, Tom, while promoting a night club in Lynn. They fell deeply in love and married in her backyard in Jamaica Plain and on that day planted a birch tree, that still thrives today. Tom became a second father to Ginny's children and their family grew to include 12 grandchildren Kenneth III, Madonna, Patricia, Daniel, Amelia, Tammy, Zynetta, Victoria, Camille, Lauren, Greg and Leon, and 11 great-grandchildren. Nothing gave Ginny more pleasure than holding a baby or hosting her annual Thanksgiving pie-making party for the grandkids.

Ginny and Tom spent their winters in Jamaica and were the artists-in-residence at Jake's Hotel in Treasure Beach. This small fishing village on the south coast of Jamaica became a second home as they made many friends with locals and travelers alike.

Ginny is survived by her husband of 48 years Tom Menihan, and three remaining children, son Kenneth and wife Liz of Colorado, daughter Ginger and Michael of Dedham, and daughter Jennifer and Colleen of Hyde Park; and was pre-deceased by her sons Daniel (Michelle) and Thomas. She is also survived by four of her sisters, Francis, Danielle, Julie, and Evelyn, and pre-deceased by her parents Julia and Dan, and seven siblings Larry, Daniel Jr, Jane, Diane, Barbara, Maureen, Mary-June. The family asks you to remember her by wearing something purple and asks that you consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in lieu of flowers.

The family invites you to a Celebration of Life gathering at Ginny and Tom's home in Jamaica Plain starting at 3pm on Saturday July 5th.