Published in the March 10, 2017 edition
PLYMOUTH — Virginia “Ginny” Niles, 92, of Wakefield, formerly of Melrose, passed away on February 28, 2017 in Plymouth after a brief illness.
Ginny was born on September 20, 1924. She was a daughter of the late Seymour M. Niles and Clara (MacKenzie) Niles. She was the dear sister of the late Elizabeth (Betty) Crane, Marjorie Heaton, Walter Niles and Bud Niles.
Ginny was born, raised and spent most of her life in Melrose. She was an avid tennis player and golfer; enjoyed being the family photographer; adored her cat Tommy; and was a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews.
She graduated from Melrose High School in 1943 and took a three month victory course to gain secretarial skills before starting work in the treasurer’s office at Boston University. She worked for Sears Roebuck in Boston and also modeled shoes at Copley Plaza due to her small shoe size. She moved from Sears to Melrose Savings Bank and then became the executive secretary to the CEO of MassBank in Melrose until her retirement.
Ginny worked hard all her life and took care of her mother until her death at the age of 98. She was the family peacemaker and along with caring for her family, she was always very good to friends and neighbors. She enjoyed traveling with her mother, sister and friends to Canada, Switzerland, Portugal, Senegal, Alaska, the Panama Canal and Aruba.
She leaves behind nine nieces and nephews. She is survived by Nancy Schurian and her late husband Herb of Melrose; Judy Graves and her husband Paul of Millville, Delaware; Doug Heaton and his wife Nancy of Brunswick, Georgia; Bob Heaton and his wife Sue of Amherst, New Hampshire; Don Heaton and his wife Penny of Calabash, North Carolina; Cathy Bush and her partner Peter of Plymouth; Peter Niles and his wife Penni of Islip Terrace, New York; Christine Tolman and her husband John of Plymouth; and Susan Robben of Newport Beach, California. She also had many great nieces and nephews.
Services will be private. Contributions in her memory may be made to Mystic Valley Elder Services, 300 Commercial Street #19, Malden, MA 02148.
