Virginia Madeline O’Brien was born August 20, 1932 to Thomas and Dionicia Gallegos. She was the 5th of 6 children (4 brothers and 1 sister) and a San Francisco native. A graduate of Mission High school, Virginia married her high school sweetheart Donald O’Brien. They had a son, Don Jr, while saving for their first house, a modest home near Ocean Beach on Kirkham Street. They often went to the beach with their neighbors and good friends Sven and Iris. Once Don was secure in his career in the San Francisco Fire Dept they decided to move north to Marin as so many SF firefighters opted to do. Virginia lived in their Novato home for 60+ years.
The house was just down the street from Our Lady of Loretto Catholic church and school where their younger child Claudine attended from 1st to 8th grade. Virginia was part of the Boutique, a group of ladies that would meet weekly and make homemade crafts to sell at Christmas time as a fundraiser for the school. She also worked on the yearly summer Rummage Sale. She and Don became close friends with Jeanne and John Schoonover, the parents of Claudine’s best friend Karen. This friendship would last until all of them eventually passed away, Virginia being the last to do so.
When Don retired from the SFFD after 26 years Virginia went back to work part time as a yard supervisor at Lynwood Elementary school across town. It was there she was given the nickname “Miss OB” or just “OB”. She would be a Lynwood yard duty for the next 17 years. She talked about the wonderful friends she made at that job, and would often see kids she met as a yard duty later when they were adults often with children of their own.
Virginia loved children, her two favorite being her grandchildren Alex Young and Dionicia Magner. She stayed fit by walking 5 miles in a loop around her house every day. In later years “the walk” shortened to 3 miles, then eventually she walked with her son Don until her knees weren’t strong enough to walk long distances anymore. She worked nearly every day sweeping and weeding in front of her house, and talking to the many people who walked by became a treasured part of her social life. She always said she met the nicest people.
Virginia and her spouse Don liked going to auctions and in later years garage sales, always looking for unique or special antiques. They liked clocks, mostly the chiming wind up variety and had a large assortment. She also collected bells and miniature shoes and dolls which were displayed throughout her house. When she moved in with her daughter two years before she passed she still had a few dolls and shoes near her bed.
Even though Virginia was 90 and bedridden when she passed she was always completely lucid though hard of hearing. She loved her San Francisco Giants and never missed a televised game even when they were in a slump. Baseball season was her favorite time of year. She passed away peacefully in the afternoon January 17th with family at her side. She can now join her husband Don who preceded her in death in 2009.
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