Virginia Mary Googoo

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dearest mother, Virginia Mary Googoo (Denny) on July 10, 2024 at the age of 97. Virginia was the matriarch of our large family. She had strong catholic faith and was a member of the Eskasoni Holy Family Parish. She was devoted to St. Anne, making the annual pilgrimage to St. Anne de Beaupre, as well as Potlotek’s St. Anne’s Mission.

Virginia was an active member of her community, and worked as a homecare worker for over 50 years before she retired and raised many family members as her own. She was the oldest community member of Eskasoni before her death.

In her younger years, she would sew quilts. She loved to cook and bake. Virginia enjoyed traveling, especially to Medjugorje, Bosnia on pilgrimage where she visited twice. She traveled across Canada from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and back via Rail with her husband. She enjoyed visiting and working in Maine, USA with her family. She was very fashionable and loved to dress up and wear jewelry. She loved when her family gathered, especially for Sunday dinners. She enjoyed watching TV, especially hockey, game shows, home renovations and the news.

She is survived by her beloved daughters, Bridget, Priscilla ‘Jetta’, Anita, Carleen, Melissa, and Andree; and her beloved sons, Allan, Darren (Yvonne), Vernon (Sheila), and Charles Jr. She is also survived by her grandchildren she raised as her own, Tristan (Sara), Faye (Evan), Mary Virginia (Sylvester), Andrew and Darren; along with her 30 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Godchildren, Douglas Denny, David Denny, Vivian Jeddore, Lawrence Paul Jr. ‘Jibby’, Raymond Stevens, Kathleen Sylliboy and Rhodena Stevens. Foster brother, Ernest Knockwood. Her neighbor, Gina Stevens. And her fur baby, Daisy.

She was the last surviving of 12 children born to the late Richard & Bridget Denny (Sylliboy). She is predeceased by her husband, Samuel Joseph John ‘Joe J.’, sons, Reginald and Charles. Daughter in law, Mary Googoo (Johnson). Grandson, Dylan. Siblings, Matthew R., John R., Martha Sylliboy, Noel R., Levi R., Joseph R., Ellen, Tom, Angeline Gould, Margaret Stevens and Josephine Paul. Godchild, Janet Morris. Best friend, Elizabeth Knockwood.

Visitation will take place at the Gabriel Centre in Eskasoni on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Funeral mass and burial will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:00 am at Holy Family Church. Salite to follow.

We would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital for their care of our mother during her final days.