Virginia Ann Lyon

Virginia “Ginny” Lyon died suddenly in McHenry, IL on October 18, 2020. Before moving to Illinois 5 years ago, she spent 40 of her 95 years in Wolfeboro and Melvin Village, NH.

Ginny was born in Port Chester, NY in 1925. She attended The Ursaline School and graduated from Rosemont College. She married her first husband Jack Milligan in Oceanside, CA in 1952. They moved to Arlington, VA where they adopted their daughter Patty then moved to Mamaroneck, NY where they adopted sons Michael and Peter and then settled in Topsfield, MA. After her divorce she worked tirelessly to support her children as an executive secretary for AB Dick, an office supply company where she mastered the dying art of shorthand.  She was a teacher at the local schools and taught CCD. She married her second husband, Paul Lyon in 1974 and moved to Danvers, MA. In 1975, Ginny and Paul moved to Wolfeboro, NH then Melvin Village and after his death she moved back to Wolfeboro. Wherever Ginny lived she was always immersed in the community. Ginny worked at Huggins Hospital as an overnight switchboard operator and was a devout parishioner at St Cecilia’s and St Katharine Drexel. Ginny was a member of the Hikers, the Lakes Region Newcomers and a supporter of the Village Players and the Barnstormers Theater, Catholic Charities, Meals on Wheels, the Lakes Region Humane Society in honor of her beloved dog, Jason and the Wolfeboro Library. She was an avid Bridge player and reader, a quilter, a painter, a tennis player, a skier both downhill and cross country and a member of the walking club. She knitted, crocheted, cross stitched, and once made a macrame headboard for her bed. She loved shopping, especially at Talbots, and was always dressed to the nines. She prided herself in decorating her houses and loved celebrating holidays with her family. Ginny traveled the world and the country from an early age, one of her favorite memories was winning a dance contest in Aruba at the tender age of 86. Since moving to Fox Point in IL she enjoyed crafting, sight-seeing, bingo, happy hours, and bursting into her favorite song Que Sera, Sera.

She was predeceased by both her husbands, her parents, Samuel and Agnes Breese, her brother Charlie Breese and his wife Ann, her son, Michael Charles and many beloved aunts, uncles, family members and dear friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Patty Milligan Taylor and husband Tim of Crystal Lake, IL; her son Peter Milligan and wife Beth of Haverhill, MA; her stepchildren Paul Lyon and wife Mary, Cindy Lyon-Blomstedt and husband Ken, and Todd Lyon and wife Kay; grandchildren Logan, Shannon, Ryan and Morgan Taylor; Connor and Caroline Milligan; Randy, Nick, Chris Lyon and Scott Lyon and his wife Samantha; Chris and Kendra Blomstedt; Max and Meredith Lyon and great grand-children Isabel and ? MacKenzie, nieces Debbie, Barbara, Jennifer Breese, and their families and last but not least, grand-dog Buzz.

Ginny will be memorialized during a service at Saint Katharine Drexel next year (date to be determined later) and Ginny will be buried beside her son, Michael at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in NY. Her earthly body was attended to by Davenport Family Funeral Home, a memory can be shared with the family at davenportfamily.com. If you wish to honor her memory, please donate to a charitable cause in her name.