Virginia "Jinny" Burgess ... enjoyed playing softball

Virginia "Jinny" Doris Burgess, 93, died on Friday, April 3rd at her home at The Residence at Silver Square, with her grandson, Ryan Gagneux by her side.

She was born on October 25, 1926 in Mount Vernon, N.Y., the daughter of Arthur H. and Doris Kraeger Rogers.

The eldest of four children, Jinny earned a special place in her father's (Doc) heart and learned the value of service to others from her parents during the Depression years. While home on break from Wells College in Aurora, NY, she met her future husband, Mal Burgess. Putting her education first, the couple waited until her graduation to tie the knot.

Mal and Jinny settled in Westport, Conn., and raised three children. Together, they loved to dance and entertain in their elegant home. Jinny taught at the Greens Farms Academy and instilled a love of learning into her own children and grandchildren. She loved sports and played softball well into her sunset years. She was a big fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. Jinny loved to sing and for many years participated in the choirs of several churches, as well as rung the bells. She loved her holidays with her family around her, with Christmas being her favorite time to decorate and entertain her large group of friends and growing family.

She was always very dedicated to her family and gave them all her unconditional love and respect, no matter what the world tossed at them. Despite her tiny size, Jinny was the bedrock of her family and will be sorely missed.

Jinny is survived by her son Eric Burgess and his wife Laura of New Bern, N.C., her brothers Jack Rogers and his partner Paul, Jeff Rogers and his wife Sandy, her sister Cynthia Barnhart, her grandchildren Ryan Gagneux, Elizabeth Anderson, Ashley Gall, Emily Anderson and five great grandchildren, as well as a large extended family.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Earl Malcolm Burgess, and her daughters Nancy Burgess Anderson and Cynthia Gagneux.