Mineville. Virginia Thelen, 92, formerly of Schenectady and then Mineville, N.Y., and lately a resident of the Moses Ludington Nursing Home in Ticonderoga, N.Y., released her soul on Easter Sunday, March 31st, 2013, with family by her side, and now resides in a much better place.
Virginia graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in Schenectady, N.Y. with high honors at age 16. She became a member of the world-renown Schenectady Turnverein gymnasium where she excelled at floor gymnastics. When the U. S. Olympic gymnastics team practiced at the Turnverein, Virginia was invited to practice with them.
Virginia was an avid reader, knitter, and crocheted a life-time of afghans, many of which were donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington, VT.
Virginia loved to sing, especially when she harmonized with her brother Charles and sister Joyce on songs of the time, such as Wont You Come Home Bill Bailey and By The Light of the Silvery Moon. When they sang, people stopped to listen. She was a self-taught musician who was adept at the harmonica and organ, and enjoyed entertaining family and friends.
Virginia was a professional waitress for over thirty years and began her career at Thelens Restaurant in Schenectady. She worked many of the best restaurants in the tri-city area over the next thirty years including James Restaurant, The VanDyke, Pier One, and many others. She finished her career at Joe's Delicatessen in Albany, NY.
In 1982 Virginia moved to the North Country where she enjoyed living on the edge of the Adirondack Mountains. She especially enjoyed her years working for Charlie and Candy Harrington at Harringtons Greenhouse in Crown Point, N.Y. It goes without saying that the flowers bloomed brighter when she was around.
For the past three years Virginia was a resident of the Moses Ludington Nursing Home where she received professional and loving care. The attentiveness of the staff was a large reason for Virginia's peaceful departure.
Virginia was predeceased by her mother, Emma Tracy, her father, Harry Metz, two brothers, Harry and Charles Metz, her sister Joyce Metz, and her much loved cousin, Ruth Riccio.
Virginia is survived by her daughter, Judith Thelen Peers of New York City, and two sons, David, and his wife Karen, from Lawrenceville, GA, and Karl, and his wife Mary, from Mineville, NY, as well as her sister-in-law Doris Metz, and nieces Marilyn Sanford, Lois Brennan, and Joan Busch, and nephews Frank Brucker and Jerry Brucker, all of Schenectady, NY. Virginia is also survived by the special loves of her life, her grandchildren; Kelly Wilson, and her husband Keith, from Douglasville, GA; Chris Thelen, from Johns Creek, GA; Tamara Palmer, and her husband Steven, of Sugar Loaf, NY; Shane Thelen, and his wife Rosalyn, of Mineville, NY; Joshua Thelen of St. Augustine, FL; and Jeffrey Thelen of Austin, TX; and her extra-special grandson, David Tarr, of Gering, NB. Virginia will also be missed by her sweetest loves, her great grandchildren; Bailee and Brooke Wilson of Douglasville, Georgia, Daniel and Carolyn Palmer of Sugar Loaf, NY, and Veronica Valdez of Texas.
Virginia was loved and valued by those who knew her and will be greatly missed.
A Memorial Service will be held this summer at the Memory Gardens Cemetery on Shaker Road, in Colonie , N.Y.
Donations in Virginia's memory can be made to the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington, VT., or the Make A Wish Foundation of New York in Plattsburgh, NY.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home of Ticonderoga.
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