Virginia (Kellner) Cleary, 90, of Groton Long Point, CT, died on Friday, December 6, 2013, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London.
She was born on May 4,1923 in Norwich, CT, to Walter Kellner and Agnes
(Aberg) Kellner. She and her brother Bill grew up in Taftville. She was married on October 28, 1950 to John Cleary. She had one son, Kevin Cleary, who survives her.
She attended Norwich Free Academy and stayed an extra two hours after regular classes every day to study at the NFA art school . She won 1st prize in the Connecticut Regional Scholastic High School Art Competition at graduation in 1941 and received a scholarship to attend college at the American School of Design in NY, NY, where she received a two year Certificate in Illustration and Advertising Art in 1943.
She worked in illustration, design and advertising before beginning her career as a Technical Illustrator at Electric Boat. After retiring from EB, Ginny returned to art school to study painting and fine art at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, in Old Lyme, CT. She painted in oils, pastels and watercolor. Her paintings are of landscapes, seascapes, portraits, figures, and still life.
She was an elected Artist Member at both the Lyme Art Association and the Mystic Arts Center (MAC) and has three paintings on exhibit at the MAC Holiday Show. Also, if you walk along the brick path along the river behind the Mystic Arts Center, look down and you will find her personally inscribed brick, “Mystic Memories! Virginia Kellner-Cleary“. Her brick is located just south of the middle of the walk, on the outer, riverside edge.
She bought her own home at Groton Long Point and lived there for 45 years, until she passed. She loved this property. It was her joy to plant gardens, landscape, build stone walls and improve her home. Her paintings hang on every available interior wall.
She and her son Kevin shared the process of improving her home. Together, they collaborated and developed the design, then Kevin would build it. Her love and support for her son was unconditional. She was his Mother and his life long friend. They spent many happy months together during the past nine years.
She was independent until the end. She was able to live in her own home, to cook, drive, shop, get to appointments and enter art exhibits by herself. She lived her life on her terms. And she passed quickly, which was her wish. A few hours before her death she said, “I’m happy”. Ginny lived the life she wanted. Virginia was a kind, sweet, gentle woman who was loved by many. She will be missed by all who knew her.
According to her wishes, there has been no funeral. A memorial event has not been planned at this time.
Support art and local artists and you will honor Ginny's life.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with her family, please click the link below.