Virginia M. Kostanski

1925 - 2022

Virginia M. Kostanski

Turners Falls, MA — Virginia Mary (Geraghty) Kostanski, 97, passed away peacefully at Buckley HealthCare Center in Greenfield, MA, on Friday, August 26, 2022. Born in Montague, MA, on July 6, 1925, to Michael J. Geraghty and Elizabeth C. (Haigis) Geraghty, she took great pride in her first-generation German and Irish heritage. A life-long resident of Turners Falls, Virginia attended Montague schools and graduated pro merito from Turners Falls High School, class of 1943, where she participated in many activities including band and orchestra, the "Swingsters," Glee Club, Tumbling Team, and public speaking. It was there that she met and dated her future husband, Walter T. Kostanski, Jr. Of note, the 1943 TFHS yearbook listed "Sis" Geraghty's special characteristics as Versatile, Musical, and Gracious -- her initials. Virginia also was a committed and passionate ballet dancer "back in the day" and would credit her great health and longevity to her years of ballet training.

Following high school, Virginia furthered her education at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield, MA, where she graduated in 1946, second in her class, with a nursing diploma and was class vice-president. Virginia began her registered nurse career as a private duty nurse. She was hired by Farren Memorial Hospital in 1951, retiring in 1982 after 31 years of dedication and devotion to the medical profession.

Virginia married her high school sweetheart, Walter, on August 16, 1947, soon after he returned from active duty in the Naval Armed Guard during World War II. Virginia was instrumental in assisting Walter in his political career successes first as a Massachusetts state representative for the Third Franklin District from 1957 to 1970, and then during his 24-year term (1971-1995) as Franklin County Register of Deeds. She also supported Walter in his career as a funeral director for the family business, Kostanski Funeral Home, until 1985.

Virginia was a devoted communicant of Our Lady of Peace parish in Turners Falls, MA. She was a charter member of the St. Peregrine's Visitors for 26 years, comforting parishioners who were patients at local nursing homes.

While Virginia certainly took great pride in and enjoyed spending time in her own home, over the years she and Walter certainly did their fair share of travel, including political-related trips to Boston, Washington D.C., and the Berkshires, along with vacations to Cape Cod, the North Shore, Maine, Branson MO, Colorado, Arizona, various destinations in Mexico, and St. Thomas USVI, for Virginia's 80th birthday. The two also were known to travel nationally for Walter's Armed Guard reunions.

Virginia loved her community and had many acquaintances, and for all that knew her, she was a kind, considerate, caring, and giving woman, who possessed a touch of sophistication in the style and grace of the Greatest Generation. She was blessed with many fruitful years and was a treasure from that iconic Generation, from whom we could all learn some valuable life lessons.

Above all, family was of the utmost importance to Virginia and Walter as they worked tirelessly to build a solid foundation for their four children. They were deeply involved in their children's lives, and whether it was in the classroom or on the baseball diamond, there was always plenty of support and camaraderie as they taught the key to success is to treat others as you would like to be treated. Virginia felt truly blessed to have grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom she adored! She very much enjoyed planning family gatherings on holidays and birthdays, and with all the trimmings she left no stone unturned. The Kostanski family gatherings, with Walter on the guitar and/or Virginia on the organ, as the United States flag was paraded around, rose to legendary status. Virginia's favorite family holiday was St. Patrick's Day, which was always a double celebration, as son Richard Patrick was born on that day. Her green créme de menthe cake was like no other!

Virginia is predeceased by her brother, Francis Geraghty, and her husband, Walter, who was the lucky recipient of her loving and meticulous care in the years following his heart surgery up until his death on June 15, 2015.

She is survived by her four children, Barry F. and his wife Patty of Turners Falls, MA; Richard P. and his wife Amy Jo of South Deerfield; Marilyn and her partner Monica Bartolucci of Millers Falls, MA; and Mary E. and her husband Daniel Brost of Cochranville, PA. Virginia leaves five grandchildren -- Jennifer Davenport, Katharine Tiedemann, Elizabeth Geraghty Brost, Josh Fuller and Nicholas Martin, and four great grandchildren -- Lindsay and Caitlyn Davenport and Emma and Olivia Tiedemann. She also leaves behind her caring, thoughtful personal care attendant, Zina Mihailicenco. Virginia was fortunate enough to spend her final weeks with her beloved granddog, Spina, the Jack Russell Terrier.

A visiting hour will be held on Saturday, September 3rd, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., at Kostanski Funeral Home in Turners Falls.

There will be A Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church, followed by a burial service at St. Mary's Cemetery, both in Turners Falls.

Memorial contributions may be made in Virginia's name to Franklin County Community Meals Program, P.O. Box 172, Greenfield, MA 01302.

For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.