Posted on 01/09/2018
"Gini" Virginia (Woods) Greene, age 86, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2017 in her home in Falls Church, VA. Gini is survived by 11 of her 12 children, 34 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her living children are Frank Greene (Katonah, NY), Dolly Mastrangelo (McLean, VA), Richard Langree (Minneapolis, MN), Tom Greene (Howell, MI), Joe Greene (Chico, CA), Dan Greene (Chatsworth, CA), Bobby Greene (Vienna, VA), Matthew Greenbergs (El Cajon, CA), Kate Klemic (Falls Church, VA), Mary Mazur (Dearborn, MI) and Gina Greene-Nelkie (Brevard, NC). She is also survived by her brother, Mark Woods (Arlington, VA). She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Jack Greene; her daughter, Ellen Greene; her granddaughter, Kathryn Greenwood; and her siblings, Mary Ann Miller and James Woods. Gini was born in Birmingham, AL, the third of four children of James and Flora Woods and moved to Washington, DC at a young age. She grew up in Anacostia, attended Notre Dame High School and graduated from Trinity College in 1953. She met the love of her life, Jack, at a US Naval Academy dance where they married a half hour after Jack's graduation in 1953. They then embarked on a 20 year adventure in the US Marine Corps, raising their family at duty stations in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, California and Washington, DC. After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1973, the family settled in Allen Park, MI where Jack became a teacher and Gini devoted her time to family and community service. Gini volunteered with many organizations in the Detroit area, working to overcome racism, poverty and injustice. In their golden years, Jack and Gini alternated between homes in Michigan and Florida until they permanently settled in Winter Haven, FL in 2008. They enjoyed the warm weather and active lifestyle. After Jack passed away in 2016, Gini moved to Falls Church, VA to be close to family. Gini raised her children with unconditional love but also a strong sense of responsibility and duty. She cherished the time with her husband, children and grandchildren. In her long, full life she experienced deep and profound losses, yet she kept an open, loving, and optimistic attitude with a generosity of spirit and commitment to her Catholic faith. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on January 15, 2017 at St. James Catholic Church, 905 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA. A luncheon will follow immediately at Westwood Country Club, 800 Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks Gini's friends to support a favorite charity such as Detroit's Focus Hope www.focushope.eduIn lieu of flowers, the family asks Gini's friends to support a favorite charity such as Detroit's Focus Hope www.focushope.edu
St James Catholic Church
905 Park Ave
Falls Church, VA 22046
Published in The Washington Post on Jan. 9, 2018