Virginia A. "Ginny" DeSisto

Virginia A. “Ginny” DeSisto, age 88, of Stoneham, passed away with family by her side on May 16, 2024. 

She was born in Boston on February 13, 1936 and was the daughter of the late James J. and Grace E. (Myette) Connell. 

She was devoted to her family and her faith. Not a day went by when she didn’t think about her beloved husband, Joe, who died too young in 2005. They set the bar for a true partnership enjoying almost 50 years of marriage. They met in East Somerville in the 1950’s and were married at St. Benedict Church on October 26, 1957. They, like many of their dear friends from East Somerville, were exceptional dancers, frequenting Mosley’s on the Charles and Blinstrum’s in South Boston where they’d foxtrot and jitterbug the night away.

They purchased a home in the Robin Hood area of Stoneham where they went on to raise their family. 

Ginny was a talented cook and baker. A favorite family tradition was to select your choice of meal for your birthday. Whether it was her legendary roast chicken and delmonico (demonic) potatoes or her whoopie pies and penuche chews, everyone loved this ritual. When asked for a recipe for her Italian gravy, she would explain how it was all in her head and as her children made their own sauce, they understood how this was to be true.

Faith was a central part of Ginny’s life. She was a devout parishioner of St. Patrick Parish in Stoneham.  She and Joe were very involved in the life of the parish.  Ginny would make pizza at the “Top Ten” dances while Joe chaperoned.  They were asked to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion when laypeople first began to participate in that ministry.  They were members of the marriage preparation team, sharing their wisdom and experience with young engaged couples.  They were also very dedicated volunteers of the Saint Patrick Food Group, organizing, preparing and serving meals.  After Joe died, Ginny continued their tradition of service as a volunteer at Heartbeat Pregnancy Help Center in Burlington.  

Above all she enjoyed quality time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family camp on the Monponsett Twin Lakes in Halifax was a special place when her children were growing up enjoying lobsters, steamers, and a competitive game of Scrabble by the lake.  

More recently, she looked forward to the annual vacation at Great Pond in Rome, Maine with her multi-generations of family where her Italian specialties were the centerpiece of Saturday’s Italian Night, the kick-off to vacation week.  Canasta, Five Crowns, Yahtzee, and Chardonnay were all enjoyed on the porch with the sounds of the loons and the lake as the backdrop. 

To her last breath, she loved her family. She was ready to leave this earth and faced her failing health with courage knowing she’d be reunited with her beloved Joe (Papa).  The family text thread will miss her encouragement and requests to “hit the pause button” for someone who needed prayers. 

Ginny was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Anthony DeSisto. She was the loving mother of Diane McCarthy of Woburn, Julianne Joyce of Reading, Lisa and her husband Timothy Padgett of North Yarmouth, ME, and Joseph DeSisto, Jr. and his wife Betty of South Berwick, ME. She was the beloved grandmother of Kevin McCarthy and wife Meg, Jamie Rios and husband Ronal, Brian McCarthy and wife Agustina, Lindsey and Cara Joyce, Andrew Padgett, and Jocelyn, Emily and Julia DeSisto. She was the adoring great-grandmother of Liam, Timothy “Tee”, Zachary “Zaky”, and Roma and very much looked forward to the arrival of another great-granddaughter in just a few short months. She is also survived by her former son-in-law Timothy Joyce of Dorchester. 

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central Street, Stoneham on Thursday, May 23rd at 10 am. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main Street, Stoneham on Wednesday, May 22nd from 4-7 pm. Interment, Saint Patrick Cemetery, Stoneham.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ginny’s honor may be made to Heartbeat Pregnancy Help Center, 113 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803 or to St. Vincent de Paul, c/o Saint Patrick Parish, 71 Central Street, Stoneham, MA 02180.