Virginia Christine (O'Neill) Courtney

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 14th, to celebrate the life of Virginia “Ginny” Courtney of Auburndale.  Ginny passed away on Monday, October 9th, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Ginny was a loving sibling, wife, mother, Gram, nurse, and friend to who knew her, inspiring each acquaintance to share in her empathy and selflessness.

Born Virginia O’Neill in 1954 to an eventual family of six siblings in West Roxbury, Ginny met her future husband Kevin L. at the age of thirteen. The couple married a few years later, soon giving birth to Kimberley M. in 1972 and Jared R. in 1979. As Kevin and Ginny pushed each other to their best through difficult circumstances, Ginny embarked upon a long career in nursing, a profession that took her from the Veteran’s Association in Boston to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and eventually to the NICU of New England Medical Center for over 25 years. Within those professional roles, Ginny formed many close friendships within the medical community. She helped found a summer camp for HIV-positive children – Camp Colors – that drew many children from the Boston area. It was her and Kevin’s compassion for those around them that led to the family’s adoption of four children: Sebastian J., Lucas E., Lee E., and Polina C. Courtney.  She celebrated the marriage of Jared to Maureen of Yarmouth, ME in 2004, and Sebastian to Autumn of Agawam in 2016.

In addition to her role as sibling, wife, and mother, Ginny was a passionate advocate of pediatric HIV/AIDS. That advocacy motivated her to forge relationships with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and to volunteer for nursing roles in Haiti via Partners in Health.

Following the untimely death of her daughter Kimberley in 2007, Ginny inspired courage in her family as she oversaw the birth of her first two grandchildren, Fitz in 2007 and Pierce in 2010. Her compassion touched all those around her, even as she battled ovarian cancer through the last years of her life.

Ginny leaves siblings Robert O’Neill, Barbara Callahan, Ann Augusta, Mary O’Neill, John O’Neill, and the late Richard O’Neill.  Visiting Hours will occur in the MacDonald, Rockwell, and MacDonald Funeral Home at 270 Main Street, Watertown, from 4:00 – 7:00p.m. on Friday, October 13th. Memorials in Ginny’s name may be made to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation at www.pedaids.org. 

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