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Virginia "Ginny" Zweedyk

March 6, 1943 - April 25, 2019
Portage, MI

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Mass of Christian Burial

Thursday, May 16, 2019
10:30 AM EDT
St. Joseph Catholic Church
936 Lake Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49001

A lunch will follow the service in the church hall.

Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Centrica Care Navigators
7100 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 345-0273
Driving Directions
Web Site

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Nashville, TN 38105
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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With grace, compassion, and generosity, Virginia "Ginny" Marie Zweedyk lived a life rich in family and service to others. Her warm smile and welcoming heart often afforded others with a sense of safe harbor in the midst of life’s storms. A wonderful wife, amazing mother, and delightful grandmother, Ginny’s beautiful legacy of conscious care for others, perseverance in the face of life’s challenges, and joy in the simple things will be proudly celebrated by those who knew her best. Loved by many, Ginny will be long remembered and deeply missed.

1943 marked a time when all American lives were directly impacted by the war effort in Europe. While countless young people actively served in the trenches of WWII, those who remained stateside poured their energies into supporting the war effort in any way they could. While Ford and GM converted their plants from automobile manufacturing to the building of bombs and aircraft engines an unprecedented 18 million women proudly worked the manufacturing jobs once held by the men who were now overseas. Providing a sense of respite from the daily struggles, Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller filled the airways, Lassie Come Home the television, and the musical Oklahoma the stage on Broadway. For Robert and Marie (Jordan) Murfin it was a particularly exciting time as they welcomed the first of their four children, Ginny, into their hearts on March 6.

At the time of her birth, Ginny’s father was a Lieutenant in the Army and serving in Normandy, France during WWII. Ginny was born in Kalamazoo, MI and did not meet her father until she was two years old. By that time she had become a pampered and spoiled grandchild who could do no wrong. Ginny and her father first met at her grandparents’ farm in Canada where her father immediately fell in love with her, but she told her mom and grandparents that she did not like her “new bossy daddy.”

The Murfins returned to Kalamazoo and Ginny was soon a big sister to Patricia, Michael, and Roberta. After completing his service in the Army, Ginny’s father worked at Atlas Press building machinery. Her mother was a seamstress, baker, and homemaker. Together they created a loving home rooted in faith and family values.

Always the angel in everyone’s eyes, once Ginny began her school at St. Joseph, it did not take long for her to wrap the nuns around her finger. This was no small feat in those days, but Ginny made it look easy. After completing her elementary years at St. Joe, Ginny continued her education at St. Augustine. She later became a member of the first class to graduate from Loy Norrix High School. As a teen, Ginny enjoyed shopping, sunbathing, and listening to her beloved Elvis Presley. A voracious reader, she had an extensive collection of Readers Digest magazines and enjoyed getting lost in mystery novels. A stylish young woman she once modeled in a fashion show for a church fundraiser.

While at a friend’s house in the neighborhood she grew up in, Ginny had the good fortune of meeting Ronald Zweedyk. Instantly smitten, she quickly returned home to announce to her parents that she had met the man she was going to marry. They laughed, but Ginny was true to her word and she and Ron were married in February of 1961.

The newlyweds made their home in West Michigan where they were blessed to welcome four children into their family: Michael, Robert, Caroline, and Lesley. Ronald worked as a machinist and Ginny stayed home and raised the children and took care of the household.

Ginny relished in motherhood and naturally possessed a gift for caring for children. In 1984 she started working as a caregiver at the Learning Village daycare for children. When the Learning Village closed, she took all the children and started a group daycare in her own home. For over 24 years Ginny provided loving care for hundreds of children. She also helped raise all her grandkids at her daycare and never charged anything for her time. Always quick to give of herself, Ginny felt especially called to support single mothers; over the years she lovingly provided childcare for their children at no cost. With similar passion, she also started the nursery at St. Joseph church which she ran for many years with her husband, daughters, and granddaughters.

With an insatiable call to serve others, Ginny was overly generous with donating to any cause, fundraiser or activity. For all of her adult life, she cooked dishes for St. Joseph church to help with funeral luncheons. Ginny was especially mindful around holidays when she ensured that friends and extended family who did not have a place to celebrate were welcome in her home. Having spent many years helping her father cook and clean so everyone else could enjoy any special event, she continued the tradition for the rest of her life. She thrived in a tidy environment and was known for clearing the dishes away before people were done eating.

Embracing life fully, Ginny was an enthusiastic hockey and baseball fan, and it was a joy when any of her children and grandkids played a sport. Whether a ball game, recital or listening to their dreams, Ginny proudly cheered them on in all their endeavors. Without a doubt, spending any time she could with her loved ones was her heart’s delight.

Those who knew her would unhesitatingly agree that Ginny’s life centered on her family and the care of others. Her devotion was both unfailing and inspiring; her example provided many with a role model for how to live a heart-centered life. Though the world is undoubtedly duller without Ginny’s bright light, her vibrant legacy will continue to brilliantly shine in the hearts and lives of those she leaves behind.

Virginia “Ginny” Zweedyk, age 76, of Portage died on Thursday, April 25, 2019. She was born on March 6, 1943, in Kalamazoo where she has lived her entire life. On February 18, 1961, she married Ron Zweedyk, and together they raised their children in a caring and loving home. Members of her family include her husband, Ron; her 4 children: Michael (Joyce) Zweedyk, Robert (Gisele) Zweedyk, Caroline Cady (Mark Maki) and Lesley Ann Scott. Other members of her family include an adopted daughter, Ann Marie McNees; 10 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; several nieces and nephews; a brother, Michael (Pam) Murfin; and a sister, Roberta (Paul) Price. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Marie Murfin; a sister, Patricia Murfin; a grandson, David Scott; and a great-grandson, Jace Weitz. Cremation has taken place. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Thursday, May 16th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 936 Lake Street; Kalamazoo followed by a luncheon in the church hall. Burial will take place at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Please visit Virginia’s personal memory page at www.BetzlerFuneralHome.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her online guestbook. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements by the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive; Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900.

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