Virginia Senn Hassell

Virginia Senn Hassell passed away Saturday, July 3rd, 2010. Born in 1915 in Silver Street, South Carolina, she was the daughter of Mecie T. and Hugh B. Senn. After graduating valedictorian of her high school class in Beaufort, S.C., Mrs. Hassell earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Queens College. She then continued her education at Duke University Medical School, where she became a medical technician. Following graduation, she worked first at Duke in Biological Designs, and later for a physician in Columbia, S.C. It was there that she met her future husband, the late Dr. James Woodrow Hassell Jr. They were married on May 31, 1947. After the family moved to Athens, Ga., in 1962, where her husband became chairman of the Romance Languages Dept. at UGA, Mrs. Hassell became a volunteer with the Athens General Hospital Auxiliary where she served faithfully for over 35 years. She was also an alumna of the UGA chapter of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

An avid golfer in college, Mrs. Hassell returned to her hobby once her children had left home; she even shot a hole-in-one, and she continued to play golf well into her eighties. She loved Braves baseball and sometimes attended their spring training games in Florida. She also enjoyed hiking and bird-watching and had a great love of animals. She traveled extensively throughout her life, including trips to Europe, Japan, and Hawaii, but her favorite place was her mountain home in Montreat, NC, where she enjoyed spending her summers.

Mrs. Hassell was a loving, kind and generous person, a model of integrity and goodness, and a beacon of hope. She put others' concerns before her own, and she was always mindful to help those in need. Her approach to life was enthusiastic and abundant. She was a true adventurer. She cherished her family and was cherished by them, and she will be profoundly missed.

Mrs. Hassell is preceded in death by her husband, her sister Dorothy S. Corbett, and her grandson Hugh S. Hassell, Jr.

Survivors include her five children and their spouses: Dr. James W. Hassell III (Barbara) of Elmira, NY; Andrew M. Hassell III (April) of Athens; Hugh S. Hassell (Dorothea T.) of Franklin, VA; Virginia H. Goekjian (Karekin) of Athens; and William D. Hassell (Carol) of Charlotte, NC. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and one great grandchild: Andrew M. Hassell IV, Mary Jane Hassell, Joanna Hassell, James B. Hassell, Virginia Hassell, Lucinne Goekjian, Zakaria Goekjian, John Hassell, David Hassell, Benjamin Woodrow Hassell, great grandson Luca Peluso, step-grandchildren Emily and Andrew Bryant, and nephews Tommy and Hugh Corbett.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Athens Humane Society, 399 Beaver Dam Rd. Athens, Ga 30605 or the National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Reston, VA 20190-5362.

Funeral services will be 11 A.M. Thursday, July 8th at Athens First Presbyterian Church with Dr. John Kipp and Rev. Carol Hassell officiating. Interment will follow at Oconee Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Bernstein Funeral Home, Wednesday, July 7th from 6-8 P.M.

Mrs. Hassell’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences may be made at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.

Bernstein Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.