Virginia "Ginny" Hovinen

Virginia (Ginny) (nee Altheide) Martarano-Hovinen passed away peacefully on February 8th, 2026 in Naples, FL. surrounded by her loving family. She lived a long, vibrant, and loving life of 93-years.

Born12/29/1932 in Keokuk, IA, she grew up in Sutter, IL six miles from the Mississippi River. The youngest of the three daughters (Mildred, Erma) and a son (Roy) of Willet and Louise (nee Heinecke) Altheide. She was proudly a tomboy playing on the farm while she followed her adored brother Roy around on his chores. Virginia attended the one room Walker Elementary School in Sutter and the Warsaw High School in Warsaw, IL.

Virginia moved to Chicago at the age of 18 and became a Nanny and family assistant. She met the love of her life and future husband, August Martarano, in the early 1950-s and they were soon married on July 4th, 1953 in Oak Park, Il. Their children, Terri and Tim soon followed, and the family’s early years were spent on the South Side of Chicago. Her family moved to a new home in Des Plaines, IL in 1968. Upon the move, Virginia left her manufacturing job at Zenith Radio and joined Bantam Books as a Mail Order Supervisor. She spent the rest of her working life at Bantam/ Doubleday Dell near O’Hare Field and retired in 1993 as the Closeout Department Supervisor. Her beloved husband August, passed away in November 1988.

In 1996, she relocated to Naples, FL to be near her son Tim and his family. She greatly enjoyed her new home, friends, and activities at the Village Walk community in Naples…..she quickly adopted the Florida lifestyle and climate and was cold at anything less than 80 F. Through her network of friends, she was introduced to Roy Hovinen of Naperville, IL. Friendship evolved into love and they were soon married in August 1998. They lived in her home in Naples but often visited the families of Roy’s children Dave and Debbie in Naperville and Minneapolis respectively. They summered in Roy’s condo in Naperville for a number of years and explored many historic and tourist destinations on their journey to and from Naperville. She shared an active social life with Roy, including concerts, theater, cultural events, and extensive travel and cruises. She greatly enjoyed sharing her life with Roy and proudly recalled their journey and adventures together. Roy passed in November 2010.

Virginia was a loving and caring wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Aunt. She made people smile with her grace, warmth and humility….and her presence brightened a room. She was always welcoming and empathetic, smiling, engaging, fun, and humorous. She was a strong positive matriarch for her Grandchildren/Great Grandchildren who greatly adored, loved, and looked up to her. She played an active role in their lives from birth and upbringing through education, extracurricular activities such as soccer, and into adulthood. The family can all look back to the milestones of our lives, and the fond memories and impact of Mom, Grandma, and Gigi are there.

She is preceded in death by her parents Willet and Louise Altheide, brother Roy Altheide, sisters Erma Ament and Mildred Haner, her first husband August Martarano, and second husband Roy Hovinen.

Loving Mother to daughter Terri (Jay) Miller and son Tim (Maria)

Loving Grandmother to Jamie (Ross) Miller MacLean and her two sons Rory and Calum, Steve (Audrey) and children Alexis and Anthony, John (Cara) and children Gregory, Lucas, Wrigley, and Sloane, Mike (Joanna) and their son Nicolo

Loving Stepmother to stepdaughter Debbie VanderWaal and to stepson Dave (Sally) Hovinen

Loving Step Grandmother to Derek Hovinen and his daughter Kendall, Justin (Kristy) Hovinen and their sons Henry and Michael, Kristy (Travis) VanderWaal Mills and their children Josh and Julia, and Kimberly Hovinen and her daughter Aly

Services will be held at the Lauterburg-Oehler Funeral Home on Monday February 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

Lauterburg-Oehler Funeral Home

2000 E Northwest Hwy, Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Near NW Highway (14) and East Gregory

(847) 253-5423

Virginia will be laid to rest next to her first husband August Martarano in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights, IL on February 23rd, 2026, following a celebration of her life at the funeral home.