Virginia Burns Bouvier died at St. Francis Hospital on Monday, April 28, 2014, after a short illness. The world has lost a devout Catholic and a passionate Irish spirit. Born on April 5, 1924, Virginia grew up in the south end of Hartford. A proud graduate of Hartford High School, as an adult, she also lived in Newington, Ct., and retired to Point of Woods in Lyme, Ct., and then at The Lodge at Cold Spring in Rocky Hill, Ct.. Aunt Virginia was predeceased by her parents, Mary (O’Flaherty) Daly Burns and James Burns, her sister Mae Daly Keene, and her brothers, Charles Daly, John Daly, James Burns, William Burns, and in March, 2014, her brother Thomas Burns. Virginia was predeceased by her husband Donald Coughlin and her husband Gilbert Bouvier. In addition, she was predeceased by her nieces Gail Burns Smith, Patricia Keene Beasinger, and Maureen Burns Kalafut, and her nephew, Michael Keene. She leaves to mourn her loss her nieces and nephews, several of whom are also her god children—Tom and Sue Burns, Patti Burns, Susan and Charles Daly-Rouse, Tom and Kathy Keene, Pam and Rocco Lapenta, Roger Kalafut, and Tom and Nancy Smith. In addition, Virginia leaves numerous great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Virginia began her work career at American Motors Car Dealers, treating her receptionist’s position as an opportunity to meet new people and use her quick wit with a welcoming comment. Her next position at J. P. Kelly and Sons was perhaps her favorite, allowing her to hone those secretarial skills, which prepared her for her final role at her husband Gil’s business, Gilbert Bouvier Insurance Agency in Elmwood, Ct. A life-long Democrat, she worked the phones for the party well into her 80’s to get out the vote. In her retirement years, she most enjoyed meeting friends and dining out at the shore, talking about the “old days in Hartford,” and dressing entirely in green at the St. Patrick’s Day parade where she always found a seat front and center by the Bushnell Memorial, then managing to have her picture published in the Hartford Courant. Also important to Aunt Virginia was attending Sunday mass and family holiday gatherings which were always more lively when she “held court, “ requiring the youngsters to perform a song, dance, or skit. Always ready with a quip, she loved to tell jokes and was not above sharing a ribald story or two. At her retirement home at Cold Spring in Rocky Hill, her favorite activities were the music presentations and weekly sing “a longs,” especially those “oldies but goodies.” The world will be a less lively and fun-filled place with Aunt Virginia’s passing. “May the wind be at your back” as you begin your heavenly journey, Aunt Virginia. We love you and will keep you in our family memories.
Friends may call from 8:30 – 9:30 am, Saturday May 3, 2014 at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd. Wethersfield, CT 06109. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am in St. Mary’s Church, 626 Willard Ave Newington, Ct. Burial will follow at West Meadow Cemetery, 679 Willard Ave., Newington, Ct. 06111. To extend online condolences, share a story or to light a memorial candle, please visit Farleysullivan.com.