Virginia Marie Parsloe

Active Volunteer

Virginia Marie Parsloe, 89, of Lyrical Lane, died August 25 of natural causes while peacefully listening to one of her favorite songs. Born Vicenza LaMontagna on December 24, 1916, in Brooklyn, N.Y., she grew up in Brooklyn and Port Washington, N. Y. She was the daughter Felix LaMontagna and Fortunata Giannotta LaMontagna Santo.

She studied nursing at Misericordia Hospital in New York City, where she became nursing supervisor of the pediatrics department. While working there, she met Bertram Parsloe, whom she married in 1942. Following the birth of their first son, Bert, the family moved to Dumont, N.J., and after the birth of their second son, Ronnie, they moved to Rockland County, N.Y.

After 18 years as a wonderful and loving stay-at-home mom, Mrs Parsloe started a career in banking where she remained for 13 years until retiring. After retirement she remained active with her many interests, and traveled around the world.

She eventually joined her son’s family in Sandy Hook. Always active in volunteer work, she worked with RSVP for 19 years, was a certified Medicare counselor, was a volunteer for Ashlar of Newtown, and taught crafts to senior citizen clubs in New York and Connecticut.

Her favorite hobbies were crocheting, knitting, needlepoint, and writing. She was a member of the Newtown Woman’s Club and joined the Memoir Writing Group at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library in 1986. One of her writings appeared in Jill Magazine, published by the News-Times. She also wrote a book of autobiographical stories, musings, and poems titled Stop…and Smell the Roses published through the C.H. Booth Library.

 Mrs Parsloe is survived by her son, Bert, of Sandy Hook and his wife, Linda, and their daughter, Veronica; her sister, Mary Chester, of Port Washington, NY.; her dear friend of 50 years, Doris Dalie of Hendersonville, Tenn.; and her dear friend, Helen Dickinson, of New City, N.Y. She was the widow of Bertram Parsloe and mother of the late Ronald Parsloe.

A brief memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 17, at 2 pm, at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.

Contributions in her honor may be sent to C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470.

The Newtown Bee        September 1, 2006