Virginia A. Kane passed away peacefully on 7/17/2024, at the age of 89, in Ponte Vedra, FL. Gina, as she liked to be called, was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and cherished member of our community. Born on 3/14/1935 in Tamaqua, PA to Philip F. Jones and Rose M. McNelis, Gina was the oldest of five children. After Gina finished high school at St. Jerome’s High School in Tamaqua in 1953 with honors, she attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Wilkes Barre, PA in 1956 and graduated with highest honors. This was also the year she married the love of her life Frank Kane.
In 1957, Frank secured a job in New Jersey, where the two settled and started their family. After seven years, Frank and Gina had four beautiful daughters, whom Gina devoted her life to raising and nurturing with boundless love.
Recognizing her nurturing nature and natural gift for teaching children, Gina went back to college while raising her family, and obtained a teaching degree from Trenton State College in 1970. This led Gina first to her job as a dedicated kindergarten teacher, then later to her job as a compassionate school nurse.
Gina was known for her kind and outgoing spirit. She always brought joy to those around her, whether on the tennis court, where she loved to play with Frank, or spending precious moments with her grandchildren. She never missed a chance to spend quality time with her grandchildren, telling them stories and singing them songs from her youth, sneaking them that extra piece of fudge, teaching them a song on piano or guitar, both of which she was wonderful at playing, or simply showing her love and affection for them.
When Gina and Frank retired, their love for adventure took them around the world, where she experienced different cultures, collected countless memories; some of their favorite places to visit were The Holy Land, Ireland, Australia, Korea, Germany, Hawaii, and California. When they weren’t traveling Gina would use that opportunity to hone her already expansive repertoire of talents and tastes. Shortly into retirement, most of Gina and Frank’s house, and her four daughters’ houses, were decorated with drapes and pillowcases home sewn by Gina herself.
Though Frank and Gina were always people of faith, retirement gave them an opportunity to deepen their faith. They were both active parishioners at Our Lady Star of the Sea. Gina was an active member of the CRHP community, Lectio Devine, Mission House, and was regularly a Eucharistic minister.
She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength and kindness. Gina is predeceased by her loving husband Frank of 66 years and her sister Phylis Heller. She is survived by her four daughters, Ginger (Scott), Molly, Julie (Jack) and Jackie; 10 grandchildren, Sean, Chase, Philip (Marcella), Shannon, Casey (Jordan), Callie (Henry), Brendan, Riley (Robert), Daniel, Collin; and great grandchildren, Gracee, Elias, Thomas, Blue, Dorothy and Virginia. She is survived by her siblings, Dan Jones, Rozanne Jones and Jackie (Richard) Heffron and many nieces, nephews and friends who will miss her dearly.
Our family would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the exceptional healthcare professionals that assisted our mother and us throughout her journey, from the Vicars assisted living staff, health center staff, Community Hospice & Palliative Care staff. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Gina's favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. A Celebration of her life will be held Aug. 24, 2024, at 11 a.m. in Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Ponte Vedra Beach. Please visit her online Tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com.
