Virginia Silva Obituary
Virginia (Ginnie) Silva passed away January 09, 2024, surrounded by her family after a 4-year brave battle with cancer. Ginnie was born October 6, 1940, in Norwood MA to Gerald and Lois Ellis. In 1958 she graduated from Norwood High School and was awarded the Plimpton Scholarship which enabled her to attend Massachusetts School of Art in Boston where she graduated with a degree in Art Education. Upon graduation, she moved to Norwalk and began her career as an educator in Elementary Art. She met "the love of her life" Joe, also a young educator, and they married in 1964. Ginnie and Joe set roots in Norwalk, where they lived and raised their family for almost 40 years. After guiding her two boys through their formative years, Ginnie returned to the classroom, received her graduate degree from Fairfield University, worked as an Art teacher and ultimately finishing her career in 2002 teaching in the Talented and Gifted program. She loved teaching. Running into former students brought her great joy. She enjoyed hearing about their lives, careers, and families.
In 2002 Ginnie and Joe retired to Orleans, MA on Cape Cod. There they spent their twilight years enjoying friends, the beach, traveling together and spending time with their grandchildren. After Joe's untimely passing in 2011, and having come to terms with his loss, Ginnie began an active role as a bereavement counselor for others who experienced loss and found a true calling helping people deal with their grief. There she made wonderful lifelong friends. She loved to host lunches with friends, attend the symphony, volunteer at the local soup kitchen and read a good mystery novel. Above all, Ginnie's family was the center of her universe. She had so much pride and love for her children and grandchildren. She was an unbelievable mother and grandmother who filled her home with photos, cards and artwork of her boys and their families. She would often say "I lived a good life. I had many people look out for me in my life. I married the love of my life who gave me two wonderful boys. And they gave me beautiful grandchildren who I adore.". She was a creative soul who didn't have an easy childhood but found and saw the best in everyone. She will be greatly missed, but remembered fondly by all who knew her. Ginnie was predeceased by her husband Joe and sister Katherine. She is survived by her two sons, Michael (Clair) of Bethel, CT, and Chris (Chrissy) of Wilton, CT. She leaves a legacy with her five grandchildren: Taylor (Chris) Valenti, Nick (Justine), Max, Quin, and Josie Silva. She also leaves behind three siblings, Gail (Don) Vincent, Gerald "Skip" Ellis, and David (Liz). Ellis along with her dearest friends Debbie and Lou Cimminello who were always there for her. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made in her memory to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Her family will receive friends on Friday, January 12, from 5-7 PM at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk. Her Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, at 10 AM at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 229 Danbury Road, Wilton. Other services to be held privately.
