GLOUCESTER: Virginia V. “Ginny” (Swanson) Scola, 84, of 20 Pearl Street, died Monday, September 28, 2009 in the Golden Living Center following an extended illness. She was the wife of Joseph P. Scola.
Born in the Bronx, New York on August 14, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Matilda (Rabel) Swanson. She received her early education in New York public schools. She moved to Rockport at the age of thirteen and was a graduate of the Rockport High School. While a student at Rockport High School, she played in the band and was active in field hockey and basketball. She was also in the drama club and enjoyed attending school dances at the Rockport Art Association, where she met her future husband in 1942.
Ginny was first employed at the former D.O. Frost and then worked as a fish packer for many years at the former Birdseye Fisheries and O’Donnell-Usen Seafood Kitchens. While at Birdseye, she was a member of their bowling team, having received numerous awards.
She enjoyed gardening, cooking, the beach, and hosting parties and cookouts for family and friends. A loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she will be remembered for her sense of humor, kind heart and willingness to help others.
In addition to her loving husband of sixty-two years, she is survived by her son, Thomas C. Scola of Gloucester, a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Richard Anderson of Hampton, NH, a granddaughter, Hannah Anderson of Houston, TX, a grandson, Jeffrey Anderson of Hampton, NH, her close niece, Sally Cochems, two sisters-in-law, Mary Scola and Vincie Gounaris, and a brother-in-law, Peter Scola, as well as many good friends including, Margaret Burke, Jean Palazzola and Ida Quiroga and several nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by her sister, Gloria Somers and two brothers, Richard and Harold Swanson.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday morning in the Holy Family Parish, St. Ann Church at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Friday evening in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 6 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery.