Virginia "Ginny" (Kijak) Kent of Bellingham, 81, passed away peacefully at her home on August 15, 2024, following an illness.
She is survived by her three loving daughters Suzanne E. Kent and her husband Joe Hebb, Alison K. Foster and her husband David and Stacey A. (Kent) Pelton and her cherished sister Jennifer Scalzo.
Ginny will be greatly missed by her grandchildren whom she adored: Emily Barry and husband Brendan, Daniel Foster and wife Emma, Julia Foster, Melanie Foster and Kyle Pelton and many nieces and nephews. Ginny was also extremely grateful to have held so deeply in her heart her great grandchildren, Fiona and Evie.
One of Ginny’s greatest joys was being a grandmother, affectionately called Grammy. Grammy loved being actively involved in all her grandchildren’s daily lives. From phone calls, FaceTime calls, multiple daily text messages, sharing a photo for just a fun laugh, and visits with the grandchildren and great grandchildren, Grammy was so loved by all. They all loved just chatting and being around her. All of this brought Ginny great joy, and the love between them all was perfectly beautiful.
Ginny, a Learning Specialist, was a teacher at Oliver Ames High School in Easton for over three decades. Her dedication to ensuring each student achieved their goal of graduation made her highly successful in teaching students of all levels. She offered caring advice and support, while encouraging all her students to be the best individuals they could be. She also served as the Yearbook Advisor for many years, creating strong relationships and mentorship with many other students in the school. Ginny even was willing to offer her car to the auto shop classes for them to practice repairs, and even if they didn't look the prettiest, she had a story to tell and was helping someone else learn.
Ginny loved to travel, and that passion led her to places all over the world. She always came home from her travels ready to share her experiences with all who would listen, especially her grandchildren who loved to see the pictures of the places that she had just visited. She was so grateful to have traveled the world so extensively when she was younger, though her one true love was Paris! She had been so many times and knew the city like the back of her hand. Even in the years when she could no longer travel, she enjoyed experiencing Paris through the eyes of her daughter Stacey and grandson Kyle. She created lasting memories in helping to plan their trip, and when they were in Paris, she was able to relive all the splendors of the city through phone calls, emails and text messages. She even got to practice her French, speaking with a local Parisian by phone during their trip. She loved the city and was always a flâneur when visiting.
Ginny also was a voracious reader. She was always surrounded by stacks of books in her home, reading many books at a time, just because, and keeping journals upon journals of all the books she read. Her love for reading started when she was a child. Ginny and her sister Jennifer always read together and continued this throughout their lives. They shared reading lists and many conversations about all the books they loved. After her retirement, Ginny volunteered at the Bellingham Public Library and participated in many book clubs, allowing her to connect with others who shared her passion for literature.
In all aspects of her life, Ginny was loving, kind, caring, independent and strong. She truly believed, “in a world where you can be anything, be kind.” She was gracious, generous and beautiful, inside and out. A great conversationalist and a compassionate listener, Ginny was always willing to lend an ear and offer support to her family, grandchildren, and many friends who also cared for her deeply. Her home was filled with love and many mementos of all that she loved throughout her life: her grandchildren, traveling and love of books. Ginny’s family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to all the wonderful women and doctors who assisted her during her time of illness to keep her strong, focused and in her home, exactly as she wanted. She will be truly missed by all who loved her.
Services to celebrate Ginny’s life will be held privately.
The Charles F. Oteri and Son Franklin Funeral Home 33 Cottage St. is honored to assist the Kent family.
Guestbook www.oterifuneralhome.com