Virginia L. Reilly

Virginia Lee Reilly, 92, died peacefully on December 2, 2018 in Jersey City, NJ after a long decline. She is preceded in death by her husband, William. She is also predeceased by a brother, Harold Stafford Lee. She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Reilly; son-in-law, David Mandel; and her beloved granddaughter, Lucinda Mandel. She is also survived by her son, David Winne and daughter-in-law, Martha. She was lucky to be reunited with him in the last years of her life, which brought her closure and happiness. Virginia was born in 1926 and graduated as valedictorian from Saint Anne’s School in Arlington, MA. As the daughter of a nurse, she joined the Cadet Nurse Corp in World War II, training at Children’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Post-graduation, she enjoyed a successful nursing career, running the intake office at Children’s, working for the government at Brookhaven National Laboratory in early radiation research and helping develop some of the first protocols to work with children with autism and cerebral palsy. Virginia married William Reilly in 1957 and they moved to Westwood, NJ, where she was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church and worked at Pascack Valley Hospital. After retirement, she and Bill traveled to Scotland and Ireland, celebrating their heritage. Virginia life will be celebrated at Grace Episcopal Church, Westwood, NJ on December 19th, 2018 at 11AM. Family members will be receiving guests at the church at 10:30AM. Those wishing to honor her life are asked to contribute to Grace Church, Westwood, or Friends of the Library at Westwood Public Library.