Ginny Parker, 82

Virginia  “Ginny” Grace Parker, age 82, of Sturgis,  passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at Thurston Woods Village.

She was born May 21, 1927, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Fred and Martha (Ludwick) Hecht Jr.

On Jan. 10, 1946, in Angola, Ind., she married Robert W. Parker.  He preceded her in death on Aug. 12, 1982.

 Virginia has resided in Sturgis and Burr Oak her entire life.  She spent 59 years living on the beloved family farm on Halfway Road in Burr Oak and loved the old house and farm.  She had so many great memories there and enjoyed the yard work and house work.  She was very proud of her family and loved her children and grandchildren very much.

Virginia was a homemaker and worked for 11 years at Cindy’s Hallmark in Sturgis where she played Mrs. Claus and the Easter Bunny to amuse the children she so loved to be around.  She also enjoyed traveling with her husband Bob. She was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church where she was involved with Altar Society and was also a member of F.F.A.
Surviving are three daughters, Linda (Irvin) Nelson of Burr Oak, Mary Lou (Donald) Richter of Hampton, Va., and Susan (Jack) Driftmyer of Toledo; one son, Steve (Carol) Parker of Belmont, Mich.; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one aunt, Elizabeth Neveraski of Bronson; three sisters-in-law, Edith Studeman, Sandi Hecht, and Irene Parker all of Sturgis; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Donald Hecht and Walter Hecht; and one sister,  Catherine Hecht.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, where a Rosary Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

 A funeral Mass celebrating the life of Virginia Parker will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in White Pigeon, with the Rev. Father Richard Altine, celebrant. Graveside service and interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, 300 E. South St., Sturgis.

The family suggests memorial donations be directed to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.