Virginia Berkowitz

WESTFORD: Virginia A. (Hein) Berkowitz, 81, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at Emerson Hospital with her family by her side. She was the wife of the late Ret. Col. USAF Jerry Berkowitz who died in 2011.

Virginia was born on March 15, 1934 in Monticello, IA. She was the daughter of the late Fred and Ione (Britting) Hein. She grew up and attended school in Anamosa, IA. She went on to earn her teaching degree and was an elementary school teacher.

Virginia was an active communicant of Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Westford, MA, where she taught CCD for many years. She spent many happy hours making crafts for the annual church craft fair.

Virginia was an avid gardener and loved to share her knowledge of wildflowers, as well as share plants from her gardens. She was a member of the Westford Garden Club and participated in many civic beautification projects in Westford. She also volunteered at the Westford Museum and the Westford Food Pantry. Throughout her life, she enjoyed playing bridge with her friends. Her favorite times were spent with her family at her son's lake house.

She is survived by her five children, Fred of Monroe, NC, Dan of Gainesville, FL, Susan and her husband, Tom, of Townsend, MA, Mike of Westford, MA and Tom of Littleton, MA; as well as her three granddaughters, Colleen Bankuti, Sarah Berkowitz, and Elizabeth Byrne. She is predeceased by her sisters, Lorraine Behr, Ruth Zimmer and Georgia Leuchter.

ARRANGEMENTS: There will be no visiting hours. A funeral mass will be held at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church, 107 N. Main Street, Westford on Tuesday, April 7 at 10:00 am. Virginia will be buried in Anamosa, IA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Fred and Ione Hein Scholarship Fund, Anamosa High School, 209 Sadie Street, Anamosa, IA 52205. FUNERAL DIRECTORS J.A. HEALY SONS - WESTFORD, MA