Virginia Fenn, 90, formerly of Housatonic, died peacefully on Thursday, November 23, 2023, at Lee Health Care.
Virginia was born in Housatonic on November 16, 1933 to John and Bronislawa (Gasienica) Szewczuk and lived in the village for most of her life. She was a graduate of Searles High School.
For more than 25 years, Virginia worked at Austin Riggs Center in Stockbridge, where she was a trusted secretary to many prominent psychiatrists; she retired from Riggs as Medical Records Administrator in 1995. She was a life-long communicant of All Saints Parish and, later, St. Teresa of Calcutta.
Virginia married Donald Fenn on November 13, 1954. Throughout their 57-year marriage, they spent many happy years fishing on Lake Champlain in Vermont with family and friends, and traveling to a second home in Central Florida most winters. She made the best apple pie in the world, knit the most perfect sweaters effortlessly, could do a minute-long plank at the gym, and make just about anything grow. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Virginia is survived by her daughter Donna Fenn Heintzen and her husband Guian Heintzen, of Canaan, N.Y.; her grandchildren, Ariana Shlansky (Michael) of Weston, Conn. and Erich Heintzen (Meghan) of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and two great-grandchildren, Cameron and Owen.
She was predeceased by her husband Donald in 2012, her sister Helen in 1933, her sister Louise in 1963, and her brother Walter in 1981.
Per Virginia’s wishes, there will be no calling hours. A funeral mass will be held on Dec. 4 at 10 am at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Housatonic, followed by burial at St. Bridget’s Cemetery on Van Deusenville Road, and a light lunch at Pleasant and Main Café in Housatonic. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy in Virginia’s memory may be made to the People’s Pantry in Great Barrington in care of the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com
