MALDEN — Virginia “Gini” A. (deMara) Pineau, 90, of Malden, formerly of Melrose, died peacefully on May 23.
Gini was born on March 22, 1925 in Providence, Rhode Island to William and Mary (Flately) deMara. She was raised in Melrose and graduated from Melrose High School. Gini married Frederick “Gene” Pineau at St. Mary’s Church in Melrose and spent 58 happy years together. The two raised their family in Melrose, and despite moving to Malden after raising their family, Melrose was always near and dear to Gini’s heart and she always considered herself from Melrose. She loved taking her family to her old childhood home at Plum Island. For years, the family would travel there every Sunday to enjoy the beach and scenes of the island. The family home had one of the only artesian wells on Plum Island, built by her own great-grandfather, which provided the freshest water.
In addition to raising a family and running the household, Gini was a member of the Melrose Humane Society for over 50 years, even serving as the President for some time. She also helped create the Stone Zoo after the Stoneham Zoo was dissolved. She spent many years working for the Stone Zoo education department, visiting schools and teaching children about the zoo and different animals. Being the busy woman she was, Gini also was very active in the antique business, in particular, for the Copper Kettle which was located in downtown Melrose, where she would help find old antique furniture and refurnish the antiques.
Gini was a trailblazer, someone who did things her own way and had her own vision. When she wasn’t working throughout the community, she enjoyed the tranquility of working in her garden. Gini loved her animals, all which she rescued in some way, most of all her beloved pet cat, Betsy Ross.
Gini was the devoted wife of the late Frederick Pineau. She was the beloved mother of Denise M. Schwartz of Marion; and Christopher E. Pineau and his wife Deborah of Arizona. She was the cherished grandmother of Aimee (Schwartz) Linker and her husband Jon of Vacaville, California; and Leah (Schwartz) MacLeod and her husband Matt of Rochester. She was the great-grandmother of Juliana Eleanor Linker, Joshua Barry Linker, Emma Elizabeth MacLeod, and Matthew Ryan MacLeod. She was the loving cousin of Rita Broderick and her husband Bill of Jupiter, Florida. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, May 27, at the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St., Melrose, MA. Gini’s funeral was held at the Gately Funeral Home on Thursday, May 28, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church, Herbert St., Melrose. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Humane Society of the United States,HSUS, HACEE120202001, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, the Animal Relief Fund of Melrose P.O. Box 760774 Melrose, MA 02176, or to Zoo New England (Stone Zoo) Development Office, Zoo New England, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA 02121. To leave an online condolence and for additional information please visit gatelyfh.com
