Virginia Anne Thielsen

Passed peacefully with family on the afternoon of December the 7th, 2024 fighting like hell right to the end to knock out her second round of breast cancer the way she did the first. Always thinking one, two…five steps ahead as a wife to a proud husband, a proud mom of her two grown sons, and her proudest being GG to her two beloved grandchildren. Though she shined most brightly as GG, it was in all of her family, near and far and blood and otherwise, that she found the most joy. Both in watching them succeed, and more so in helping in any success when she could. And she rarely couldn’t. If you held space for hers, she always held space for you. Always the first to volunteer to help at the drop of a hat, and well known for never letting a David stand alone against a Goliath of any kind.

Her second love behind her family, were all of the individuals, clients and especially the students she had the pleasure of working with throughout her careers in counseling, education, research & mentorship. Dr. T as she was affectionately known to her students, always made every effort to give her students every pathway to success scholastically and professionally, but most proudly also served as a surrogate mom for many students from countries and cultures the world over. Of particular pride in her professional life and career were the bonds she helped create between both herself & MSU at large, to her professional counterparts turned friends and prominent organizations and universities in Ireland. Leading multiple trips and study abroad sessions to Ireland as well, that helped herself and her students immerse themselves in a different culture, not only helping young people view things through a lens other than their own, but leaving that lens open when they parted ways.

Ireland was the tip of the iceberg as far as her love for travel, visiting as many other bucket list locations as she could throughout her life. Ginny’s love of her pups Sheila and Marco must be shared, but especially Sheila, who knew just how to bring a smile to her face during tougher days. With innumerable hobbies ranging from throughout her life that included but are certainly not limited to - reading, biking, hiking, cooking, swimming, baking, sewing, photography, quilting, education, art, research, learning, planning, family etc., it should come as no surprise that genealogy and her family history were among them. As opposed to the traditional listing of family in most obituaries, she’d most appreciate if you viewed all of the hard work she did to connect the family using Ancestry.com.

Per her wishes, in lieu of a funeral, there will be a small celebration of life with family following her cremated remains being spread in the ocean, a place she loved.