Virginia ‘Ginny’ Elaine Whitelaw

Born in Saranac Lake on March 26, 1955, she was the youngest child of the late Paul and Jeanette Shene. She graduated from Westhampton Beach High School in 1972. Virginia had been employed at the Saranac Lake High School as a teacher’s aide for 29 years and retired in 2012.

Virginia is survived by her husband Tim “Whitey” Whitelaw, whom she married on March 17, 2002; her son William Everett and his wife Aubrey of Quincy, Massachusetts; daughter Angelique (LePichon) and her husband Nathan Duso of Malone; her eight grandchildren: Julia and Miles Everett, Matthew and Caleb Stewart, Dylan Duso, Angelina Boyle, Jezibelle and Raven Conway; her sister Joan Schaefer of Saranac Lake; and brothers Michael Shene and his wife Laura of Englewood, Florida, and Steven Shene and his wife Debbie of Palm Bay, Florida; her sisters-in-law Paula Shene of Southampton and Laura Gregg of Pelzer, South Caolina; and her many nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends.

Virginia was predeceased by her daughter Dana (LePichon) Conway in 2017, sister Ruth “Tootie” Harrigan in 2011, and brothers Jerry and Paul Jr. Shene in 2017; her brothers-in-law Ronald Harrigan in 1992 and George Schaefer in 2018; and her former spouse, Willam Everett Jr. in 2015.

Virginia was a beautiful soul with a vivacious personality who touched many lives. She was an animal and nature lover at heart, but she was also an avid reader, a curious family researcher, moved by music (especially that of her brother Steven), a camping enthusiast, a hostess of lively gatherings (Erin go Bragh, Ginny goes hurrah), and a teller of family stories and jokes (many followed her Facebook updates of snowplow passings). Family was the value that reigned above all else.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. There will be no calling hours. A cremation will follow, and her remains will be buried this fall next to her parents, brothers and daughter at Brookside Cemetery in Bloomingdale. Family and friends wishing to remember Virginia “Ginny” Elaine Whitelaw may make memorial contributions to the Tri-Lakes Humane Society in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.