Virginia G. Keefe
Longtime Tewksbury resident
TEWKSBURY: Virginia G. “Ginny” (Hastings) Keefe, age 75, a resident of Tewksbury for 48 years, formerly of Reading, passed away at the Lahey Clinic Hospital on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
She was the beloved wife of John J. Keefe, with whom she would have celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary this fall.
Born in Somerville on December 30, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Leonard Hastings and the late Anne (Walsh) Hastings. Ginny was raised in Charlestown and Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School in 1966. She was proud of Charlestown roots and Irish heritage.
Ginny and John met as teenagers and they have been inseparable ever since. Following their wedding on September 3, 1972, she devoted her life to her husband and raising their three children. While raising her children, Ginny spent many years caring for children inside her home.
Nothing brought her more joy than becoming a grandmother. She spent the past twenty five years, known as Gram. She was their biggest cheerleader; always at every event and proud of every accomplishment.
Ginny cherished her close relationship with her sister, Marilyn. They shared a bond like no other, each with an intuitive sense of what the other was feeling despite living miles apart. She looked forward to visits to Michigan, and Marilyn’s trips to Tewksbury each year. She also enjoyed many trips to Foxwoods with her life long best friend, June Little. Ginny was known as a bargain hunter and couldn’t pass a T.J.Maxx without stopping.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her three children, Kimberly Dean and her husband Jeffrey, of Marlborough, Richard Keefe and his wife Margo, of Shirley, and Shawn Keefe and his wife Casey, of Merrimack, NH. She was the grandmother of Ryan Dean and his fiancé Marissa Frydryk, Erin Dean, the late Olive Keefe, Henry Keefe, Oliver Keefe, Caroline Keefe, Caitlyn Keefe. She was the much-loved sister and best friend of Marilyn McGowen and her husband Gene, of Oxford, MI, Lennie Hastings and his wife Karyn, of Spring Hill, FL, and the late Patsy Hastings. Ginny leaves many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Calling hours are Tuesday, July 18th, from 4-7 p.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. Her funeral procession will begin on Wednesday, July 19th, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main Street, Route 38, Tewksbury. Services will conclude with interment at St. Mary Cemetery, 90 River Road, Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donation in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org