Obituary: Virginia “Ginny” Crotta Wallace, 97, of Orange

ORANGE, CT - (From Cody-White Funeral Home) Virginia “Ginny” Crotta Wallace, 97, of Orange, beloved wife of William (Bill) L. Wallace II, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2020.

Ginny was born on September 20, 1923 in West Haven, and she was the daughter of the late Paul Chester and Louise (Tosi) Crotta.

Ginny grew up in West Haven surrounded by her large, extended family.

She graduated from West Haven High School and worked at the Yale Faculty Club, becoming one of the Assistant Managers before meeting the love of her life, Bill.

With Bill, she created a loving, gracious home and travelled the world – first for his work and later with her family or to play golf in exotic places.

They recently celebrated their 73nd wedding anniversary.

She enjoyed golf and bridge, both of which she played for almost 50 years with good friends at the Racebrook Country Club, where she was also a Women’s Member/Member champion.

Ginny also loved the opera – attending the New York Metropolitan Opera often, and listening to the Saturday Exxon broadcast from the Met regularly; filling the house with great music, and amazing voices.

Throughout her life, public libraries were also very important to Ginny.

Initially as a means to experience the broader world during her childhood and later as a supporter and Board Member of the Case Memorial Public Library in Orange as well as a member of the Connecticut State Library Board.

Friends and family remember Ginny as a gracious, warm, person.

“She always asked me about myself and my life, and then she really listened and paid attention to what I said.”

“She would answer the phone with a smile in her voice.”

“She made me laugh like a teenager, even in recent years, with both of us in our 90’s.”

In addition to her beloved husband, Bill, Ginny is survived by her children, William L. Wallace, III and Martha (DuBois) Wallace, and Mary Wallace Jaensch; her grandchildren, Andrew and Julie (Monteagudo) Jaensch, Nicholas and Carly (Gordon) Jaensch, Katharine Jaensch, William (Will) L. Wallace IV and Carolyn Wallace as well as her cherished great-grandchildren, Max and Theo Jaensch.

The family would like to thank all of the aids who have so carefully and lovingly cared for Ginny during the last several years, and to the Hospice nurses and social workers who made the last few days of her life comfortable and graceful.

All services will be private at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Case Memorial Library in Orange: http://orange.lioninc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CML-Gift-Donation-Form.pdf

Funds collected in Ginny’s name will be used to buy children’s books for the library.