Virginia Frances Nehring

Virginia Frances Darcy Nehring1936-2013CHICOPEE- Virginia "Ginger" passed surrounded by loved ones on December 30th after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.  She leaves her husband, Ludolph Nehring, her two daughters, Karen M. Johnson of South Hadley, MA and her son-in-law George E. Johnson, III her grandchildren George IV and Abigail Johnson and her daughter Kristen Darcy, of East Sandwich, MA along with her grandchildren, Nicolas and Grace Sarah Magnacca. She will be greatly missed by her brother Emile Armand Darcy and her baby brother Frank Eugene Darcy, his wife Joanne and their children Scott, Sam Darcy and Sara and Jake Belcher all of Chicopee, her brother in law William Thomas Hewes of North Carolina and niece Elizabeth Zarone and her family from North Carolina.  She was predeceased by her loving parents Armand and Edna Darcy and her sister, Joanne Darcy Hewes and her brother David Darcy.  Virginia was very close to all her cousins - the Darcy and the Doty/Dodd families. She will also be missed by her children by marriage, Jeffrey Nehring and Lynne Nehring Bridgeman of Northampton, Lorena Nehring Shapiro of Chicago and Laura Nehring Ross of Huntington and their spouses Robert Bridgeman, Ronald Shapiro, and Robert Ross along with her 9 grandchildren. Virginia was a lifelong resident of Chicopee and attended Chicopee Public Schools graduating from Chicopee High School in 1954.  She also graduated from Burbank Hospital School of Nursing in 1957 with her R.N.  She received her Master's Degree from Cambridge College in 1985. She was employed as a R.N. at Springfield Hospital (now Baystate Medical Center) and at the Willimansett Nursing Home East where she worked as a charge nurse, nursing supervisor, Director of Nursing and Nursing Home Administrator.  Virginia retired from Willimansett after 30 years of employment. Ginger's greatest joy was her family and she loved to have a full house on holidays.  She loved to cook and many a delicious meal was had at her table.  She loved her "Cape House" and shared it freely with many people. Ginger was active in the community. She was instrumental in establishing Lorraine's Soup Kitchen with Lorraine Houle and continued to be on the board of directors and supported the kitchen. She was an active supporter of the Womanshelter/Companeras and sat on the Utilization Review Committee of the Chicopee Visiting Nurses Association.  Ginger was also on the board of directors of the Holyoke Creative Arts Center.  She loved to make quilts, re-upholster furniture, and make baskets, jewelry and dolls. Her generosity knew no bounds and lucky were those recipients of her many kindnesses.  In 2005 Ginger was the recipient of the Massachusetts Unsung Heroine Award for her many hours of volunteering. Ginger's family wishes to thank Dr. John McCann and the staff of the D'Amour Center for Cancer Care and the staff of Wesson 4 at Baystate Medical Center for their care and compassion of Ginger and her family. Calling hours will be held Sunday January 5th from 1:00-5:00 PM at Tylunas Funeral Home, 159 Broadway Street Chicopee, MA 01020.  Her funeral will be held Monday January 6th from Tylunas Funeral home at 9:15 AM followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Rose de Lima Church 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee MA at 10:30 AM with burial following at St. Patrick's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Lorraine's Soup Kitchen or Womanshelter/Comaneras.  Ginger's family is requesting that each and every person who was touched by Ginger's generous heart pay it forward and commit one random act of kindness in her memory. For additional information, please visit tylunasfuneralhome.com. Tylunas Funeral Home(413)592-1048