Virginia Marie O'Malley

YARMOUTHPORT - Virginia M. (Mara) O’Malley 87, of Yarmouthport MA formerly of Dennis, MA passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 9, 2014 after a long and difficult illness.

She was married to the late Edward W. O’Malley for 60 years.

Virginia was born on March 15th, the Ides of March, in Worcester, MA to John Mara & Elizabeth (Scanlon) Mara.

She was a graduate of Boston University’s Sargent College with a degree in Physical Education. Her Sargent College classmates became her life long friends. She remained active in sports and physical activities all her life. For many years, she taught exercise and swim classes, and coached her daughters’ swim teams. In her forties, she developed a passion for golf and running which became her cherished activities. She was an avid golfer, enjoying the competition of the sport but more importantly the friendships she cherished over the years. At one point, she and her husband, Eddie, were both the Men’s and Women’s club champions at the Nottingham Country Club in Southwestern, PA. After raising a family in Bethel Park, PA, she and Eddie retired to their home on Cape Cod in 1980 where they became active members of the Dennis Pines and Dennis Highland Golf Clubs. After her husband’s death, Ginny moved to Kings Way and became an active member of the Golf Club at Kingsway where she won the Women’s 9 Hole Championship in 2012 at the age of 85.

In addition to her sports activities, she was an active participant at the College for Life Long Learning at the Cape Cod Community College.

As much as she enjoyed her activities, her true passion and first priority was her family. In addition to her husband, Eddie, she was the mother of Kathleen A. Damon of South Ryegate,VT, Marjorie E. O’Malley of Boston and Nancy J. O’Connor of Yarmouthport.

She was intensely proud and loved her grandchildren, Kathleen M. (O’Connor) Gingras of Plainville, MA, Thomas O. Egan of Boston and Connor Huck of Yarmouthport.

Her sister, Betty (Elizabeth) Sheridan of Worcester, with whom she shared a life full of laughter and love predeceased her in 2001. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews. Most recently she enjoyed the arrival of her great grand nephews.

She leaves behind many wonderful friends, both old and new, as proof by the enormous outpouring of well wishes during her recent illness.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 am on Monday, July 14, 2014 at Our Lady of the Cape Catholic Church, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Virginia’s memory to the VNA of Cape Cod/Hospice 434 Route 134 Suite D3, South Dennis, MA 02660 or The Village Improvement Society of Dennis, PO Box 779, Dennis MA 02638.