Virginia Mary (McArdle) MacDonald, 90-years old; you may call her Virginia, Ginn, Sister, Mumma, Gramma or even Great-Gramma, died Tuesday, April 12, 2016.

She was all but one person, probably different to each one of us and how we knew her. We all have our different perspective, but I think we can all agree she was an elegant gal and she prided herself on that. She was born into this world in Lowell, daughter of John McArdle an Electrician by trade and Esther (Donovan) McArdle a housewife.

Virginia had to change her ambitions on becoming a nurse into a dental assistant in order to help feed her 4 younger brothers and sisters after her father falling ill. She later in life owned and operated an advertising agency with her late husband George MacDonald from out of their Westford home in which she helped with the text and graphics. She had an excellent mind and image for art and creativity as well as gardening. Later on she gained an appreciation for writing as well as becoming a square dancing aficionado and enjoying a good game of Wii bowling in much later years. Not many people realize it, but she was very competitive; to the point where she would try to beat family members to her living space by sneaking off behind walls for a shortcut with her walker in her assisted living facility. In her life, she and husband George raised 4 girls whom they were very proud of, Kathleen (MacDonald) Hylan of Corona CA, Nancy (MacDonald) Byrnes of North Bend, WA, Virginia (MacDonald) Cloepfil of Semi Valley, CA and Carol "Carrie" (MacDonald) Nabavi of Tierra Verde, FL. With this she helped to introduce into this world 9 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was small of stature, but strong in fortitude as well as physical strength; enough physical strength to build a long granite rock wall, one rock at a time in front of her house where her girls grew up in Westford, MA. The wall still stands as of today. Later she proved having enough moxie to buy her dream house on Cape Cod, which she was so very proud of. She was a woman of no waste; she had an impeccable ability of extracting every God given morsel of a lobster or whatever else was on the table. I believe we all concur that she was certainly the Achargé d'Affaires of the Clean Plate Club! Virginia was fortunate to leave this world enveloped by many family members doting and loving on her consistently every step of the way. Not many people have that wonderfulness and fortunately she was aware that she was surrounded by love in the days of her passing.

There will always be a missing spot in our lives for this lady; especially at family events where her absence will be more noticeable. However, there should be no tears of sadness shed that she left this world, she lead a good life. We have nothing to complain about, but everything to look forward to. She brought us all together, family or friend and she would want us to keep it that way and remember her for the good she brought to us and the happiness that we have in this moment.

Elegance is/was Gramma and that’s how she wants us to remember her and we will all make sure that she’s going out in style! We love you Gramma/Mumma.

Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472