Virginia McCandless Joliet

Born to Jim and Grace McCandless in Detroit on September 25, 1941, Ginny grew up in Grosse Pointe the second of five children, and was a proud graduate of Grosse Pointe High Class of 1958 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan.

Ginny married Robert (Bob) Joliet in May 1966 at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, and they welcomed four boys then a daughter and raised them in Grosse Pointe. Both from large families, Ginny and Bob were lifelong members of St. Paul’s, and they emphasized faith and family and instilled those values in their children.

After Bob passed away suddenly in 1985, Ginny went back to school and earned an MBA from Wayne State University, which she completed at night while working full-time and raising her young children as a single mother. Ginny’s greatest joy was being a mother to her kids—Jim, Jerry, John, Jeff and Joanne—and she was overjoyed when her family grew with her daughters-in-law Michelle, Sadhana, Mariel, and Amy, whom she loved dearly. Ginny was also the proud grandmother to 13 beautiful grandchildren.

Professionally, Ginny was blessed with a sharp intellect, and her career was focused in accounting and information systems with multiple companies in the Detroit area, including American Natural Resources, Coastal Corporation, EDS, and the City of Taylor.

Personally, Ginny had a flair for the exciting and unconventional, as evidenced by her large collection of colorful eyeglasses and her limited-edition convertible VW bug, which she zipped around town in with the sun on her face and wind in her hair.

After retiring, Ginny loved volunteering as a performing arts docent at the Detroit Opera House and Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as well as serving on the Bon Secours Assistance League. She relaxed by gardening, doing puzzles and playing games on her iPad. She was also a voracious reader, spending countless hours in her garden engrossed in a book while enjoying the warm sun and a gentle breeze. Ginny also loved to visit her children and grandchildren around the US—usually without a return date established—and enjoyed traveling to exciting destinations such as Hong Kong, Rome, the Bahamas, London, Alaska, Vancouver, China, Hawaii, Ireland and the Netherlands with various family members over the years.

Always one for a new adventure and never known to look back, in 2021 Ginny decided to sell her Grosse Pointe home and moved into the Senior Independent Living Community at Cedarbrook of Rochester where she met so many wonderful new friends. At Cedarbrook, she remained extremely active by serving on the movie committee, organizing field trips, taking in operas on Netflix and, most of all, playing cards. Ginny also cherished time spent at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House where she would attend retreats, pray and reflect while walking the beautiful grounds and praying at the Stations of the Cross. She renewed and deepened her Catholic faith at Manresa, which brought her great peace, comfort, and joy.

Ginny’s warmth and love touched so many. For her kids’ friends, Ginny was a second mom and always there to provide love, support or even a little help to get out of some mischief. Her intelligence and quick wit fueled a fabulous sense of humor. She was strong, brave, and fiercely determined in all her efforts, but especially when it came to selflessly supporting those she loved. Ginny was truly beautiful, and her piercing bright blue eyes and wide smile were signature traits. But her patience, kindness and grace were what made her such a wonderful soul.

In heaven, Ginny joins her beloved husband, Bob. She is also welcomed by both her parents; her sister Marilyn Gillis and brother Jim McCandless; her mother- and father-in-law Leo and Marcella Joliat; her brothers- and sisters-in-law Tom and Elaine Joliat, Jack and Hozee Joliat, Joan and Joe Angel, Jim Dichting, and baby Celestine Joliat; and her niece Jenny Dale and nephew Jeff Joliat.

Ginny leaves behind her sons Jim (Michelle) of Rochester, MI; Jerry (Sadhana) of Southport CT; John (Mariel) of Los Angeles; Jeff (Amy) of Indianapolis; and daughter Joanne of Charlotte, NC. She will be missed greatly by the 13 grandchildren she adored—Rachel, Jake, Drew, Jay, Alex, Asha, Hayden, Emerson, Olivia, Jack, Caroline, Ella, and Henry—as well as her brothers Bill (Lynn) McCandless and John (Robbie) McCandless, her sister-in-law Julianne Dichting, and 24 nieces and nephews. She will be missed and remembered fondly by her high school and college friends, former coworkers, former Grosse Pointe neighbors and Cedarbrook residents.

A memorial mass for Ginny will take place at 10:00am Friday, April 5th, at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore Rd, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. Visitation will take place from 9:30 – 10:00am in St. Paul’s Gathering Space. Ginny insisted that any memorial service be a happy and cheerful celebration of her life, so the family welcomes you to wear bright colors.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Ginny’s name to Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, 1390 Quarton Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 or at https://www.manresa-sj.org/donate/