Obituary of Virginia M. Gimilaro

Virginia Mary Gimilaro, age 92, of Woburn, MA, formerly of Arlington, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2023. Virginia was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was born on July 4, 1930, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Antonio and Lucia DiNapoli, who immigrated from Campania, Italy. Virginia often shared fond memories of her parents and her childhood. She was particularly proud of her father who served in WWI and was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he received in the war. When she was young, her father told her the holiday fireworks were for her birthday and she held on to that her entire life. Virginia graduated from Cambridge High and Latin in 1945. She dedicated much of her life to raising her 4 children. As they grew up, she found herself working first at a local Hallmark shop and then at MIT in Alumni Relations. In her spare time, Virginia volunteered in many capacities at Matignon High School. She also volunteered at both St. Camillus parish in Arlington and St. Eulalia in Winchester, MA. She was known for her dedication to her faith and worshipped at both churches. Her hobbies included knitting, reading, gardening, and all things Italian. Her favorite activity, though, was talking to and about her grandchildren and her great-grandchild. She was known far and wide for her delicious 'rabbit ear' cookies. Virginia was always baking her rabbit ears for family, but she was especially fond of baking them for friends and neighbors. And her pizzelles! They also were loved by many. She stored them in a seemingly bottomless container and they were the ‘go to’ when there were no rabbit ears. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Lucia DiNapoli, her husband of 45 years, Anthony Gimilaro, and her brother, Pasquale DiNapoli. She is survived by her brother, Luigi DiNapoli, and his wife, Marilyn, of Bedford, MA, and her children, Anthony Gimilaro and his wife Kim of West Hartford, CT, Joseph Gimilaro and his wife Susan of North Hampton, NH, Jeanne Domenichella and her husband Paul of Arlington, MA, and Stephen Gimilaro and his wife Julia of Scarborough, ME. Her eight grandchildren - Sarah, Joseph, Maddie, Peter, Anna, Camille, Nicholas, and Jonathan, and one great-grandchild James Joseph (JJ) – will miss her dearly. Visitation will be at the Arthur P. Graham Funeral Home, 3 Arlington Rd., Woburn on Thursday morning, June 8, 2023 from 9:00-10:30am, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Eulalia’s Church, 50 Ridge St., Winchester at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in memory of Virginia to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452 (www.alz.org)