Virginia Ritchie

Date of Birth

Dec 25,1950

Date of Death

Jun 02,2012

NAME VIRGINIA "Ginny" C. RITCHIE,age 61, of Naperville, IL, passed away surrounded by the love and prayers of her family, Sunday afternoon, June 2, 2012.BORN: She was born on December 25, 1950, in Quincy, MA, the daughter of James Sr. and Joan (Prentiss) McLaughlin. EARLY YEARS:Ginny grew up in Quincy but moved to Pittsfield where she continued to attend local schools. The family moved to Galveston Island, TX for a time before moving St. Charles, IL, in 1963. There she graduated from St. Charles High School in 1969. EDUCATION: Ginny’s mother said that all the children needed at least one year of college, so Ginny settled on of all places, The University of Alaska. MARRIAGE: Upon her return to the "lower 48", Ginny became a stage manager and actress for Playmakers, a local theater troupe. Fate intervened when she tried to recruit a local man who worked at Fermi Lab. Following a whirlwind first "date", David Ritchie Sr. won her heart and her hand soon after. Ginny and David were united in marriage on April 12, 1980 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in St. Charles, IL. RESIDENTIAL HISTORY: They began their new life on Rt. 25 near the Fox River in St. Charles but found a more permanent home two blocks from what is now the Town and Country Book Store. In 1985, they moved to their present home in Naperville. OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY:Ginny held many jobs throughout her life and one of the first was with Arthur Andersen as a clerk. She then worked in the purchasing department for the City of Geneva where she helped bring in a new fire truck to the community. Ginny also joined her husband at Fermi Lab where she became the Assistant Proton Crew Chief. While raising her sons, Ginny held several offices, including President, while she served alongside other parents in the Naperville Home and School Association. Her hard work and dedication brought clothing exchanges, student registration, and numerous fund raisers. Most recently she worked for Mail Box Etc., now run by UPS. LIFE NOTES: Ginny was an avid reader of "fast fiction", often finishing books only a day or two later after cracking them open. When she wasn’t reading, she kept her fingers busy with needlepoint which became gifts to many of her friends and family. Outside the house she enjoyed meeting her girlfriends on Tuesday night for bowling. "Strikers, Not!" was their team name and knocking down pins was their game but bowling became secondary to the buffet of food they brought and shared while playing poker in between frames. She had a fascination with all things Winnie The Pooh and treasured her "pooh" watch for over thirty years. Ginny was a loving and dedicated mom first and foremost. Her home was always open and she never turned anyone away, especially at dinner time. A chair and place setting would be added and who ever stopped in became another member of the family.Although she never admitted to enjoy cooking, her meals and treats made your mouth water. "Egg-chilada", a breakfast concoction that was always a hit, became a staple of family gatherings. She was a great partner-in-crime at the numerous physics conferences and seminars held across the country and in Europe.Ginny was a self proclaimed "Scrabble Queen" and felt most comfortable with her nails painted, a glass of wine in her hand and Kenny Chesney or Toby Keith on the radio. She was a hardcore advocate of WCCQ, the only radio station played in the house or car, and established a "one T.V." mandate to assure everyone watched together. She disliked computers immensely but tolerated their existence, although there was a moratorium on computers at the dinner table. The normal countdown for Christmas Day was changed to the countdown to her birthday and she made sure everyone knew it. Her one rule was that at least one present under the tree be wrapped in birthday paper. Her imagination was endless and often created "welcome home" signs for any occasion. They might be hung in the dining room or stretched across the garage for the whole neighborhood to see. Ginny’s sense of humor was infectious and her jokes and laughter kept everyone in stitches asking for more. Even when her diagnosis became dark and grim, Ginny’s smile and joking nature broke through the darkness. Her light and life will never be forgotten and the lifetime of memories she made will be cherished forever. DATE OF PUBLICATION REQUESTED: Thursday June 7, 2012 MEDIA: Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, Kane County Chronicle FAMILY APPROVAL SIGNATURE :=========================================================================Please adjust to conform to your format Side headers are provided for easier index editing. If questions arise, please feel free to call us at : (630) 365-6414. THANK YOU.=========================================================================NAME VIRGINIA "Ginny" C. RITCHIE,age 61, of Naperville, IL, passed away surrounded by the love and prayers of her family, Sunday afternoon, June 2, 2012.SURVIVORS: She is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, David Ritchie Sr., Two sons:David "Jamie" Ritchie of Atlanta, GA and Rob Ritchie of St. Charles, IL;Four siblings:Ann Marie (Bill)Wyatt-Rogers, Ted (Deeann Miller) McLaughlin,Paul (Connie) McLaughlin and Peggy (Mark) Macaluso;Many nieces, nephews and a family of friends. PRECEDED:She is preceded in death by her parents and one sister-in-law, Maggie McLaughlin. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be from 1-2:30 p.m., with a memorial service to celebrate her life at 3 p.m., at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, on Friday, June 8, 2012.MEMORIAL In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Ginny Ritchie Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com where you can also read her full life story. PRECEDED:She is preceded in death by her parents and one sister-in-law, Maggie McLaughlin. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be from 1-2:30 p.m., with a memorial service to celebrate her life at 3 p.m., at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, on Friday, June 8, 2012.MEMORIAL In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Ginny Ritchie Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com where you can also read her full life story.

Visitation will be from 1-2:30 p.m., with a memorial service to celebrate her life at 3 p.m., at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, on Friday, June 8, 2012.

Private family commital will follow cremation.

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