Virginia Ann (McDonald) McNiff

Our mother, Virginia Ann McNiff, 'Ginny' McNiff (McDonald), of Wayland, MA, is no longer with us, her daughters, Karen Tobin, Linda McNiff, and Cindy Arshad. She served as the epitome of happiness to her 3 daughters, loving life and every person and animal that came into her sphere.

Ginny was born on 1/31/27 and raised in Newton, MA as the child of Roy and Esther McDonald, and sister of Roy Jr., Winny (Winifred), John, and Doe (Dorothy).

As a young girl up until her teenage years, Ginny was trained in figure skating. Performing advanced spins, jumps, figure eights, and combinations, Ginny thrilled all who watched her perform, especially the neighborhood kids, as her children proudly watched on.

Ginny also loved art and design and attended art school after graduating from Newton, MA high school. Using her art school training and natural artistic talents, Ginny found employment as a Retoucher for Bachrach Studio in Boston. While working for Bachrach Studio, the owner, Mr. Bachrach, came into the studio one day and said, 'Who is that woman? I have to have her portrait'. For many years Ginny's portrait was displayed outside Bachrach Studio on Boylston Street in Boston, to lure customers to the business.

Ginny then met and married Thomas McNiff, owner of Winthrop hardware store, a Navy man, an honest, strong, hardworking, devoted, and devout man. Thomas was from Watertown, MA.

After marrying, Ginny and Tommy moved to Wayland, MA, which they both considered, 'moving out to the sticks'. In Ginny and Tommy's new home, they were surrounded by farms, horses, pigs, visits from dogs and cats (strays and owned), woods, lakes, ponds to skate on, fields, apple orchards, and the most wonderful neighbors. Finding this exciting new home, Ginny enjoyed every day being a wife, mother, and neighbor.

Ginny spent most of her summer vacations with her husband and children at ‘the cottage’ in Marion, MA. As a teenager, Ginny worked at the cottage when it was a tea house owned by her aunt Tessa.

Ginny was a member of the Wayland PTO and helped out the schools in any way that was needed. She also loved attending the school's performances: choir, orchestra, plays, and band. She loved public celebrations of town parades and especially loved Natick's Fourth of July parade. Ginny also loved studying Nutrition, an interest shared with her father, Roy and her Auntie Tessa. When Ginny’s youngest child entered elementary school, Ginny found a perfect fit for her love of children, nutrition, and civic involvement by volunteering in the Wayland School lunchroom. Ginny's volunteer position led her to being offered a paid position which led to a 50-year career there. Ginny was a hard worker.

Ginny was Grammy and Grandma to four grandchildren, Thomas, James, Taimoor, and Taabish and a loving and devoted wife to Tommy for 72 years.

We will miss talking with and seeing our mother, but we will always feel fondness when we see the qualities we love about her animated in those around us.

Ginny passed away on November 17, 2022.

The old days have passed, a new day is now upon us.

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