Virginia "Jinky" Oliver, age 92, passed away, Friday, June 2, 2023 in her home surrounded by her family.
Virginia was born January 18, 1931 in Carleton; she was the daughter of William and Nettie (Winisky) Naida. She married Delbert W. Oliver, Sr. on January 27, 1955; sadly he preceded her in death on October 6,1993.
Affectionately, known to family and many friends as "Jinky", a name given to her by childhood friends Agnes (Taborski) Lehr and Beverly (Middleton) Brown, now deceased. She was also known as "VO" to many of her DTE family.
She attended Asam School until it closed, then attended grade school at Carleton Elementary School and eventually graduating from St. Patrick School in 1943. She attended Carleton High School for 2 years before transferring to Monroe High School, graduating in 1947.
Virginia was employed by the former Jennings Insurance Agency in Maybee for 18 years, then by Detroit Edison's Monroe Power Plant as an Office Administrator from 1969 until her retirement in 2008.
She was a member of Divine Grace Parish (St. Patrick Church), life member of Women of the Moose, Monroe Chapter 714, life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 4039, RSVP of Monroe County, AARP, Ash, Berlin and Frenchtown Senior Centers and Monroe Center for Healthy Aging.
Virginia was the 2019 recipient of the Helen Applin Award of volunteerism: volunteering through RSVP at United Way, County of Monroe, Monroe County Fair Association, Monroe Center for Healthy Aging, The Salvation Army and Paula's House, along with DTE Energy's Care Force and River Raisin Centre for the Arts and serving as their house manager from 2007 – 2020.
She was an avid crocheter, had crocheted many afghans and other items for family and friends in the United States, Ukraine and Romania and lapghans for the Veteran's Hospital. In her spare time she enjoyed playing cards (especially euchre), visiting casinos, listening to music and getting together with family and friends. She was a member of a shuffleboard league in the 1950's and bowled for many years on the Wednesday night Nortel Renegades League and Friday morning Senior League at Monroe Sport Center.
She is survived by three sons, Del Oliver, Jr. and Dale Oliver of Carleton and Gary (Judy) Oliver of Spring Texas; many nieces, nephews and cousins and their families.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother William "Wild Bill" Naida, two sisters, Olga (Joseph) Miliman and Anna (Frank) Fisher; niece Betty (Diehl) Rittner; nephews, Robert Fisher and Leon Naida.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Road, Monroe; where a VFW Post 4093 Ladies Auxiliary service will be held at 6 p.m. She will lie instate at 10 a.m. Friday, June 9th at Divine Grace Parish (St. Patrick Church), Carleton with Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. Rev. Michael Woroniewicz, pastor of the church, will officiate. Burial will follow at Northside Cemetery, Maybee.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Virginia's memory are suggested to St. Joseph Mercy Radiation Oncology, Divine Grace Parish (St. Patrick Church), River Raisin Centre for the Arts or a charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com .