Virginia H. (Union) MacDougall

Waltham – Mrs. Virginia H. 'Ginny' (Union) MacDougall, of Waltham, died Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at her daughter's home in Bellingham following a period of declining health. She was 89.

Ginny was born in Boston on July 15, 1931 to the late Frederick and Mary (Hoey) Union. Raised in Belmont, she was a 1949 graduate of Belmont High School. It was there where she met Bob MacDougall and the pair married in 1955 in Saint Joseph's Church in Belmont. They moved to Waltham in 1963 where they raised their family and shared forty-eight 48 happy years together until Bob's death on June 7, 2016.

Ginny always kept her hands busy and her mind sharp. She enjoyed a fourteen-year career as a food service administrator for Arkwright Insurance until her retirement in 1996. In more recent years she served the Meals on Wheels program through the Waltham Senior Center delivering meals to local senior citizens.

She and her family were longtime members of Our Lady's Parish where Ginny was a CCD teacher for a number of years. Always one to keep fit she walked daily until recently and had been a fitness instructor at the senior center.

Her greatest accomplishment was caring for her family and being a terrific wife and mother. When the family grew to include her grandchildren and great-grandchildren her joy was complete.

In addition to her beloved husband, Bob, and her parents, she is reunited in Heaven with her brothers and sister, Madelyn Benton, Frederick Union and Bernard Union.

She leaves her children, Brenda L. Kelly (Michael) of Franklin, Gail A. Cannistraro (David) of Littleton, Robert C. MacDougall (Susan) of Winchendon) and Paula J. Burke (Michael) of Bellingham, eleven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Family and friends will honor Virginia's life by gathering for calling hours on Thursday, February 18th from 4 to 7 p.m. in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday morning at 10 a.m. in Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham. Burial will follow in Newton Cemetery.

Those wishing to view Ginny's Funeral Mass may do so by visiting https://my.gather.app/remember/virginia-h-ginny-macdougall on Friday, February 19th at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2020 – a note from the funeral home pursuant to Governor Baker's recent order:

During times of uncertainty and crisis one might wonder what to do at the loss of a loved one or how to show support to a friend given the limitations that the pandemic continues to present.

Telephone your friend to offer words of love, support and a verbal hug, drop something delicious by the house, leave a condolence on the funeral home website, make a donation to their favored charity, send a card or flowers or have a Mass said, remain in touch, and above all else . . . say prayers for the deceased and their family and the world during this difficult and unprecedented time.

These simple gifts of sympathy and charity are more valuable than you will ever know.

When public wakes are held capacity limits mean that your visit to the venue where they are held should be brief to allow other guests time to say hello to the family. Only members of the immediate family remain present throughout.

It goes without saying that people who have lost someone are especially sensitive and understanding to the concerns that some of their own family members and friends may have about visiting any public places right now. If this does not feel like the right time for you to venture out please don't.

Space limitations also mean that funeral services inside the funeral home and in many places of worship will also be private. Most services, at the family's request, will also be livestreamed and recorded for future viewing. The link to access the channel is found at the bottom of the obituary notice online.

Cemetery services are included in the current outdoor gathering limit of twenty-five people.

During any events, public or private, common sense precautions prevail. That includes masks covering your nose and mouth, staying with your household group throughout the services and keeping a sensible distance. Thank you . . . again . . . for your patience and understanding.