NEW BEDFORD- Virginia "Ginny" (Barney) Whalen, 99, of New Bedford passed away peacefully Sunday, August 20, 2023 at Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion. She was the loving wife of the late John R. Whalen. Born in Fall River, MA, she was the beloved daughter of the late Harold and Estella F. (Allen) Barney. She cherished time spent with her family and friends.& Ginny is survived by her three daughters, Patricia C. Maranhas of New Bedford, Susan E. Tyler of Randolph, and Ann M. Simmons and her husband Paul of Vineyard Haven. She has six grandchildren, Sarah Holbrook and her husband James, Amy Mello and her husband Troy, Joshua Maranhas, Keeley Maranhas and his wife Juntra, Caitlin Tyler DePina and her husband Leao, and Jennifer Morse. She has 15 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was loved by all and will be deeply missed. She was the sister of the late Harold S., Albert P., Charles A., and Allen F. Barney who she loved dearly and felt blessed to have shared her life with. She was a proud graduate of the St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing. Ginny was a Registered Nurse who served as a Cadet Nurse during WWII from 1943-1945 and later worked for Community Nurse and Hospice Care in Fairhaven, from its inception until her retirement in 1997. She was passionate about nursing, family, friends, and traveling. She traveled many places around the world with some of her more memorable trips being those where she traveled on the Concord to Europe and Great Britain, as well as trips on the QE II, and to Australia. Ginny was a member of the YMCA water aerobics club for many years. She was supportive, motivated, and determined to help others, her love of life will always be remembered and live on.Calling hours are Thursday from 4-7pm in the Donaghy New Day Cremation and Funeral Care, 465 County St., New Bedford. Her funeral will be Friday, August 25, at 8am from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9am in St. Lawrence Martyr Church, 565 County St., New Bedford. Interment in Rural Cemetery, New Bedford. For facility directions or memorial register please visit, www.newdayfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community Nurse Home Care, 62 Center St., Fairhaven, MA 02719.

Community Nurse Home Care/Hospice of Fairhaven
62 Center Street, Fairhaven MA 02739
Web: https://www.communitynurse.com/