Virginia Drake

Virginia H. “Ginny” Drake, 89, formerly of Canasawacta Street, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 4, 2013 in the Residential Health Care Facility of Chenango Memorial Hospital.

Born in Norwich, NY, Ginny was the daughter of Raymond and Mary (Finigan) Hawley. She was raised by her grandfather, Michael Finigan along with her mother, Mary. Ginny was a 1941 graduate of Norwich High School and received her Registered Nursing degree in 1944 from the Syracuse Memorial School of Nursing. Ginny began her career at Troy, NY Hospital while her husband, Gordon, finished his degree at RPI. Returning to Norwich in 1948, Ginny worked at Chenango Memorial Hospital and later in the offices of Dr. Thomas and Dr. James Flanagan. In 1963, she joined the workforce of the Norwich Pharmacal Company, later Procter & Gamble, where she remained until her retirement in 1983.

Ginny was a member of St. Paul’s Church and of the former St. Paul’s Mother’s Club. She was also a member of the former Chenango Memorial Hospital Nurse’s Club and was one of the founding board members of Hospice of Chenango County.

On July 4, 1944, in Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Syracuse, Ginny married Gordon D. Drake who died on August 23, 2000. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Joanne and Dr. John Brereton, of Norwich, Thomas and Sandra Drake, of Simpsonville, SC, and James and Lynn Drake, of Norwich; eight grandchildren, four step-grandchildren; and fourteen great grandchildren. Several nieces & nephews also survive. She was predeceased by a brother, R.M. Hawley.

A memorial Mass of Resurrection for Virginia will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at St. Paul’s Church. Burial will take place in the spring in St. Paul’s Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.

Contributions in memory of Ginny may be made to Hospice of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815