Virginia Alice Gade McCann, 83, died peacefully April 12 in Farmington.
She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, John Lawrence McCann, Jr., “Jack.”
Virginia and Jack had five children, Dorothy Mary McCann and husband James McDevitt of Glen, N.H., Karen Ann McCann and husband Dennis Hayes of Farmington, John Lawrence McCann III and wife Deborah Chase of Scituate, Mass., Mary Alice McCann and husband Matthew Garrigue of Watertown, Mass., and Joanna McCann Cyrus and husband Tony Cyrus of Hampton, N.H. Virginia and Jack had six grandchildren, Manjusha and Sudhakar McDevitt-McCann, Addie and Benjamin Chase-McCann, and Jonathan and Christopher Cyrus. Virginia’s sister is Dorothy Finucane of Edmonds, Wash.
Virginia loved music, art, and visiting with family. She enjoyed playing her piano, painting, and was a highly skilled crafts artist, making braided rugs, bookmarks, and crocheted goods, among many other crafts. She also enjoyed gardening, reading, and boating.
She inspired her children, their spouses, and grandchildren, most of whom are musicians. She loved good conversation, and encouraged her beloveds’ artistic endeavors. Her intrepid spirit inspired those close to her.
She had a remarkable mind and began studying the piano as a young girl. She enjoyed playing her piano almost daily, until the last days of her life.
Virginia was born May 18, 1923 in South Chicago, Ill. She served her country in the U.S. Coast Guard for three-and-one-half years in WWII. She married Jack, who had served in the U.S. Navy, in 1945.
They lived with their growing family in Massachusetts, where she taught piano. From 1974-1997, Virginia and her family lived in Damariscotta, where family and relatives often visited and enjoyed many happy times together. There she was a St. Patrick’s Church Eucharistic minister, she painted and did craftwork, took college courses, and paddled on the tidal river near her home in her small canoe.
After Jack’s death following his courageous struggle with cancer, Virginia lived near family in New Hampshire and Maine. She died of heart and lung diseases peacefully in her sleep.
Visiting hours 6-8:30 p.m., Wed., April 18 at Strong Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m., Thurs., April 19 at St. Patrick’s Church, Newcastle.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 11A First Ave., Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451-1115 or United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, 8085 Saltsburg Rd., Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15239, or Histiocytosis Association of America, 332 N. Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071.
Arrangements are entrusted to Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
