Virginia Gaffney Cooney of Vero Beach, and a former resident of Manorville, NY, and Bethpage, NY, passed on March 13, 2014, at her residence in Vero Beach.
She is survived by her husband James and five daughters, Virginia Anne Rinehart (Tom), Carol Lynn Cohan (George), Janet Mary Rayve (Mark), Anne Teresa Hartmann (Eric), Audrey Catherine Watkins (George).
She was the loving grandmother of 13 grandchildren, Sarah and Rachel Rinehart, Erin and Gregory Cohan, Emily, Hannah, James and Daniel Rayve, Eve and Ethan Hartmann, and Margaret, Olivia and Sophie Watkins. She was the loving sister of Joan Price (James) of Ft. Washington, Md., Barbara Gillman (John) of Brooklyn, NY, Joseph Gaffney, deceased (Mary), Arlene Barbini, deceased (Edward). She was the loving aunt of many cherished nieces and nephews.
Virginia attended the Fashion Institute of Technology at Manhattan, NY, and was followed at that college by three daughters and one granddaughter, working artists all.
Virginia was employed for many years in the textile industry as a textile designer, art director and colorist for several major textile firms at Manhattan, NY. She shifted careers to be closer to her five daughters and became an EKG Technician at Central General/ North Shore Hospital at Plainview, NY.
Virginia and Jim relocated to Vero Beach in 1989 and she became a Certified Nursing Assistant for the Indian River Visiting Nurse Association. She also volunteered at Indian River Memorial Hospital and was a mentor for reading comprehension with the Indian River School District.
She was an active member of the Holy Cross, RC Church Choir for years.
The family will receive friends from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, March 16, 2014, at Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach, with a prayer service at 4 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, 2014, at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Interment will be at Calverton National Cemetery, in Calverton, NY.
A guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
