Worcester/Spencer/Paxton: Virginia M. Ford passed away on April 16, 2021. Her caring nature, keen intellect and sense of humor will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was born on April 20, 1931 in Worcester, the daughter of Edward M. and Kathleen E. (Mahoney) O’Coin. She attended the Diocese of Worcester Catholic Schools and graduated from St. Peter’s High School in 1948. After graduation, she worked for the New England Telephone Company as an Operator. Ginny was married to the love of her life, her high school sweetheart, Daniel J. Ford for more than 46 years, until Danny’s passing in 1994. Gin and Dan worked side-by-side on many entrepreneurial ventures, from owning and operating a Cushman’s Bakery truck to selling real estate, pianos and organs and culminating in the founding of Bay Path Furniture and Gift Shoppe in Spencer, which they operated for nearly twenty years. Ginny lived most of her life at 249 Main Street in Spencer where she lovingly cared for Dan, their eight children, grandchildren and her father, who shared Dan and Gin’s home for over 30 years following the death of Gin’s mother. The excitement level rose in the house when Dan surprised Gin by bringing home two Shetland ponies to go with the various dogs, cats and other pets which made 249 Main Street their home, too. Gin took tremendous pride in her family and enjoyed entertaining family and friends at her beautiful and meticulously clean home. For nearly four decades Gin was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Spencer and she lived her faith as a CCD teacher, Eucharistic Minister and Acolyte. She was also a regular collector for the Bishop’s Fund. In the days before families had two cars, Gin would march her children up and down the hills of Spencer, walking from home to church in the rain, sleet, snow or sun to participate in the various Novenas and Feast Days in the liturgical calendar. After Dan’s passing, Ginny moved to Paxton and joined the St. Columba Parish where she continued her attendance at daily Mass and participated in the annual devotions. She especially enjoyed going to Sturbridge for the Novena to St. Anne. When her eyesight failed her and she could no longer drive, Ginny became an avid supporter of The Daily Mass. Her friends and family learned not to telephone her during the televised Mass for they knew she would not answer the phone. She is survived by her children, Daniel M. Ford and his wife Nancy (Barry) of Cherry Valley, Francis A. Ford and his wife Shirley Doyle of Paxton, Joseph P. Ford and his wife Diana (Langevin) of Spencer, Michael E. Ford and his wife Linda (Merritt) of Paxton, Robert B. Ford of Paxton, Mary M. Ford of Paxton, Kathleen E. Ford-Pelley of Leicester, John D. Ford and his partner Karen Dantona of East Brookfield and Theo V. Chapman of Spencer who was like a son to her. Gin is also survived by her grandchildren, Jennifer M. Ford and her husband Ron Friberg of Holden, Jeremy P. Ford and his wife Kelley of Hubbardston, Kelly J. Ford and her husband Patrick Shipman of New Canaan, CT, Patricia A. Ford and her husband Michael Cutler of Sturbridge, Alysha G. McSherry and her husband Jonathan Glazier of Westford, Maura J. Ford and her husband Ryan Maloney of Paxton, Stephanie L. McSherry and her husband Christopher Cox of Southborough, Kayleen M. Ford of Cumberland, RI, Andrea V. McSherry and her husband Justin Hill of Southborough, Daniel R. Ford and his wife Farrell of Paxton, Courtney E. Pelley and her fiancé Abraham Diaz of Worcester, Joseph R. Ford and his fiancée Kimberley Menezes of Westport, Allison D. Ford and her fiancé Eric Thuotte of Boston, and Johnny D. Ford of East Brookfield. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Kailyn Ford and her husband Jon Morris; Camden and Tyler Hearn; Breanne and Riley Shipman; Alexxis, Michael and Nathan Cutler; Hannah and Weston Glazier; Tessa and Stella Ford; Flora, Rowan and Vera Maloney; Caroline and Victoria Cox; Maeve Cueman; John (Jack) Hill; Carter Ford; and Benjamin Diaz. “Nana” also leaves two great-great granddaughters, Braya and Emmalee Morris. She also leaves her brother-in-law Angelo T. Pappas of Worcester, who wins the O’Coin family game of survivor. Of the eight O’Coin siblings and their eight spouses, Uncle Angie is the last man standing. We guess he meant it when he said the “T” stood for “Tough.” In addition, Gin leaves her sister-in-law Grace (Ford) O’Gara of Worcester. Gin also leaves many dear nieces and nephews and friends too numerous to name. Besides her “Danny Boy” and her parents, Ginny was predeceased by her sons-in-law, John D. Wentworth and Paul V. Pelley, and Gin’s siblings, Mary and her husband Ted Binienda, Robert O’Coin and his wife Eleanor, John O’Coin and his wife Barbara, Kathleen and her husband Robert Brodeur, Margaret Pappas, Joseph O’Coin and his wife Jane, and Ann and her husband John McGrail as well as her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Michael O’Rourke Ford and Grace M. (Flanagan) Ford, her brother-in-law John O’Gara, her nephews James Pappas and John Binienda and her niece-in-law Denise Simoncini Pappas.
Private funeral services were held at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Spencer. Due to the restrictions of COVID, only the immediate family was in attendance. Ginny has been reunited with Dan in heaven and they are entombed together in the St. John’s Cemetery Mausoleum in Worcester. As always, right to the end she did it her way, and has asked that anyone who wants to remember her do so by sending a donation to St. John’s Food for the Poor Program, 44 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604. The family thanks the staff of the Morin Funeral Home of Spencer and Leicester for their assistance. J.HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOMES, 23 Maple Terr., Spencer.