Virginia D. Heller

Virginia (Maloney) Heller, of Newburgh, Indiana, passed away peacefully at Newburgh Healthcare Center on September 13, 2020 at the age of 95. Affectionately known as Ginny by her siblings and nieces and nephews, Virginia was born March 16, 1925, in Carmi, IL, the second of nine children to the late Edward and Sallie (Mecum) Maloney. Simply put, Virginia was a remarkable woman. Growing up during the Great Depression, family life on a homesteaded farm in Ridgeway, IL was anything but easy. Her family, through perseverance and hard work, overcame many obstacles. She remained here until her graduation from high school, a 1943 graduate of Ridgeway High School. Later, she moved to St. Louis, MO. where she was employed at Mallinckrodt Co. from approximately 1943-1949. It was in St. Louis she met her future spouse, Jack Heller at a USO dance. On May 28, 1949, Virginia married John (Jack) Heller, an enlisted navy man from New Jersey. From this union, 5 children were born. Virginia enjoyed sewing and this translated into her later employment as manager of the fabric department at Stewart's Department Store for many years in the 1970's. After leaving Stewarts's and having raised her children, she joined Jack on his work assignments in Australia, Suriname, Germany, and Japan. Always up for an adventure and meeting new people, she thrived in these moves and environments. After retirement, Jack and Virginia being snowbirds, spent winters in Florida and their summers in Indiana. In Florida, they enjoyed the beach, swimming, walking, and hosting many family and friends. Virginia was a strong woman who accepted life's circumstances with grace, most notably during the last several years when she faced ailments and surgeries. Her Catholic faith was important to her. She was one of the oldest living and active members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (Newburgh, IN) and supported them most of her adult life, generous and faithful in Mass attendance until health prevented her from going. She volunteered at Mother Teresa Treasures and was an active member of Newburgh Senior Citizens. She always accepted a dog as a member of the family and over the years the breeds ranged from German Shepherds, daschunds, and in the latter years, Golden retrievers. She lavished love on all of them. She continued to go to Florida until health issues prevented her residing there in winter. She was a marvelous seamstress and was prolific in gardening and canning the harvests her entire life and taught these skills to her children. She was a great cook and tried every recipe imaginable and shared generously with neighbors and friends. Many were the lives touched by her grace, wisdom, strength, generosity and humor. It was her hallmark and her legacy. She was loved as a neighborhood mom and many of the neighbor "kids" continued their relationships with her up until her passing. She was a happy and uplifting and positive person and an example to many. She always looked at the glass as "half full' instead of the negative "half empty" perspective. She was loved and adored and will be missed dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, John (Jack) Heller, brothers Paul Maloney, William Maloney, and Tim Maloney, and sisters Rita (Maloney) Soma and Patricia Maloney. She is survived by her five children: Michael (Beverly) Heller, Beverly (Shannon) Lafferty, Eileen (Rex) Butler, Anita Heller, Timothy (Christine) Heller and siblings Martha Lawler, Sarah Bailey, and Lawrence Maloney. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Caroline, Eric, Brett, Andrew and Alex, and 7 great grandchildren: Timothy, Caleb, Micah, Eliana, Lucas, Nathan and Isaiah. The family would like to express special thanks to the staff of Newburgh Healthcare and Heritage Hospice for their tender care of Virginia. Also, to doctors and medical staff and health care workers who tended to mother over the years. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Friday, September 25, 2020 at Alexander Funeral Home Newburgh Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2020 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, with Rev. Dusty Burns officiating and burial to follow at St. John the Baptist Cemetery. A livestream of the service will be available at www.sjbnewburgh.org. The family requests all guests who attend the visitation or service to wear a mask. Memorial contributions may be made to Newburgh Food Pantry and Newburgh Senior Citizens. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNewburghChapel.com.