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In memory of

Virginia Sue Fagen

Lincolnshire, IL

November 19, 1945 - December 20, 2019

Nov 19, 1945 - Dec 20, 2019

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Virginia Sue Fagen, of Lincolnshire, Illinois, died on Friday, December 20, 2019 at the age of 74. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa on November 19, 1945 to Jane Kent Fagen and Dr. Robert O. Fagen. She is survived by her children, Jennifer Wiener Kihm and Matthew Wiener, her sisters, Jane Shelburg and Peggy Elliot, and her grandchildren, Sophie, Charlie, and Tess Kihm, and Ethan and Aidan Wiener.

Ginny was a kindhearted person who most enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. A beautiful day and a walk in nature made her the happiest. She was fascinated by the natural world and all its beauty. She found flowers especially compelling. Ginny didn’t know how to use her phone very well, but she figured out the camera—it was filled with hundreds of photos of flowers.

She always had a special connection with animals. Besides the many cats and dogs she had over the years, Ginny particularly loved birds. She could often be found birdwatching from her back porch or making special birdseed mixes (the squirrels loved that, too). Her children will never forget the time she fed the possum in their window-well peanut butter and jelly sandwiches until she could find someone to rescue it.

Ginny spent her life helping others, first as a grade-school teacher and reading specialist, and later in an administrative job helping nonprofit organizations in Lake County. She greatly contributed to raising her five grandchildren, among whom she was known for throwing the best Halloween parties. Ginny was always up for celebrating any holiday, and faithfully passed her family’s traditions down the generations. Her Christmas cookies were the stuff of legends, and thankfully we have the recipe.

Ginny had a curious soul a lifelong love of learning. You could always count on her to spend four hours in a museum—and then another two in the gift shop. Ginny greatly appreciated art and adored reading. Books were her passion, and she had a way of making stories come alive, much to the delight of her grandchildren.

She had a small but tightly knit circle of friends who acted as an extension of her family. Together they would share meals, laugh, and close down coffee shops after hours of chatter. Always one for adventure, Ginny recently took her friend to visit a sloth in Lake County. Sadly, the sloth was sleeping, but the experience itself is a cherished memory.

Despite all of her wonderful qualities, Ginny was a notoriously bad gift giver. She once gifted her teenaged grandson a book titled “What’s Going on Down There?” (we never let her live that one down). However, she ultimately gave us the greatest gift of all—her love and presence in our lives. She will be missed dearly.

A private memorial service will be held in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Lake County Audubon Society. If you would like to share a memory of Ginny or send a condolence to her family, please visit everloved.com.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Lake County Audubon Society.

Learn more & give