Services For Longtime Community Volunteer Virginia MacMahon Begin Today

Virginia MacMahon (nee Rowley), a longtime well known Summit resident, died suddenly on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at Overlook Hospital at the age of 83.

Virginia was born in 1927 in Brooklyn, New York to John and Margaret Rowley. She came to Summit in 1960 and saw her children through the Summit School System. She was also active in many social organizations and civic activities. Virigina was a Summit Rent Commissioner, and election board worker and volunteer. As a member of the Summit College Club (AAUW) she was book sale coordinator and contributed to club programs for over 40 years. She was an enthusiastic member of the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad. Virginia was active in Summit Seniors, conducted aquacise lessons at Summit Family Aquatic Center for 20 years and was recognized by the NJ Parks and Recreation Association. She was also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Mayor of Summit. She was active in the YWCA and YMCA aquatic programs. She was an active member of the Fortnightly Club and participated in many bridge groups. Her fluency in Spanish enabled her to act as an interpreter at St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth which she ardently supported.  She was President of the Christ Child Society and was a Eucharistic minister, both at St. Teresa of Avila Church.

Virginia graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Hunter College in New York City while working for the telephone company. She then began to teach for the New York School System. While living in Summit she worked for AIRCO research with super conducting wires.  She and her husband traveled extensively to all corners of the globe, visiting all the continents and many islands throughout the world
Virginia is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years,  Miles D. Mac Mahon.  She is the loving mother of Margaret (Michael) D’Ecclessis, Monica, Daniel, Thomas, Timothy (Cynthia), Mary Kate, Christopher and Virginia (Kevin) Gosling. She lost her son Patrick in 1992. Cherished grandmother of  Michael and Matthew D’Ecclessis, Paul and Carl MacMahon, Jeff and Jon Nichol, Miles MacMahon, Gwendolyn & Patricia Gosling and great-grandmother of David D’Ecclessis, Aiden & Alexia Nichol. Dear sister of John and James Rowley, Peggy Fitzpatrick, Sister Mary Joseph of the Little Sisters of the Poor,  and the late Patricia Kober.

The visitation will be held at , 7 Summit Ave., Summit, NJ on Friday, July 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.  The Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, July 2nd, at St. Teresa of Avila Church, Summit, at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be private. For directions or to send condolences please visit www.ippolitofuneralhomes.com.

Please omit flowers. Donations in Virginia’s memory to St. Joseph Social Service Center in Elizabeth, 118 Division Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201 would be greatly appreciated.