Virginia O'Brien

Virginia Damitz O'Brien

Virginia Damitz O'Brien, 98 years young, of Bath, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.
Born on May 15, 1917 in New York City, "Jinna", as she was called, and her family moved to Hicksville, Ohio, when she was around 6 years old. As a sophomore in high school, she was recruited to join the 16 member "O.V. Hart's All Girls Marching Band", playing the slide trombone. The ahead-of-its-time band traveled to county and street fairs and celebrations entertaining the locals with its renditions of John Philip Sousa marches. Each member was paid one dollar for rehearsals and two dollars per gig. Jinna framed the first dollar she ever earned from her band efforts. After graduation, she attended Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, then enrolled in the School of Nursing at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, earning her bachelor's degree in nursing and becoming a Registered Nurse.
It was at Henry Ford Hospital where she met and later, in May of 1940 married Dr. J.C. Damitz ("Cy") in an old-fashioned ceremony, replete with romantic ambiance including horse and buggy transportation, in Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan. They moved to Akron, Ohio, where Cy started his E.E.N.T. practice.
In addition to rearing her two daughters on Woodside Drive in Akron, Jinna was an expert at creating salads, veggie dishes, and canning fruits and vegetables from Cy's garden for enjoyment during winter months. With the full-time help of Ruby Brazil, she made beyond-amazing Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and other holiday celebrations comparable to Hollywood production perfection.
Jinna's life in Akron was filled with a whirlwind of many activities, organizations, and memberships, including Garden Club, Junior League, a plethora of bridge groups, and the Weathervane Women's Board. She volunteered for Mobile Meals, the Red Cross, and Akron General and City hospitals. Jinna was voted one of the "Ten Best-Dressed Women of Akron" in 1962. She belonged to the Akron Woman's City Club, Portage Country Club, and was a charter member of Silver Lake Country Club. Virginia loved all animals and was an early founding member of what is now The Humane Society of Greater Akron. She enjoyed bowling and golf, but upon being introduced to Duplicate Bridge, those activities took a bit of a backseat, as Jinna became an avid Master Player, even going on cruises which sported other Bridge-playing enthusiasts!! She was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) and Community of Christ.
Cy, her loving husband of 36 years, passed away suddenly in 1976, and Jinna later married William O'Brien in 1984. Mr. O'Brien passed away in 2001. Needing supportive care and companionship, she and her daughter Kathleen shared nearly each day of their lives since 2002.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, John C. Damitz and William O'Brien; and in 2015 by daughter, Kristine. She will be forever missed by her daughter, Kathleen (David) SirLouis; brother, John of Santa Ana, California; sister, Judith of Medina, along with their families; her grandchildren, Melinda (Douglas) Taylor, Michelle (Nedin) Bahtic, Megan (Aaron) Edrington, and Matthew (Christy) McGuire; eleven great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Grateful thanks to our forever friend Kathy Crew, who has been an indispensable part of Jinna's life since June 2015.
Services will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, April 23, 2016, at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Akron 44333 with high priest Donald Moore officiating. Friends may call one hour before the service. Private interment will take place at Rose Hill Burial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pay It Forward for Pets, 2136 Yellow Creek Rd., Akron, Ohio 44333, or PAWSabilities, Humane Society of Greater Akron, 7998 Darrow Rd., Twinsburg, Ohio 44087. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)