WESTFIELD – Virginia Ann Sibbach passed away peacefully with her friends at her bedside July 1st, 2024. Ginny, as she was affectionately known, was born February 23rd, 1924 to Clarence Owen McDonald and Margaret Olena McDonald Ricker (Johnson) 1993. Virginia also had a brother, Richard Owen McDonald who predeceased her.
Virginia married Charles Fred Sibbach in 1943. They had two children, Steven Mark Sibbach, 66, and Joy Ann Sibbach who predeceased her at 71 in 2018. Virginia has two granddaughters, Toby Jan Sibbach and Deidre Ann Clyne of Florida.
Between 1944 and 1946, Ginny served in the United States Navy, working in the Naval Bureau of Personnel Records in Washington, DC. While growing up in the towns of Portland and Rumford, Maine, Ginny loved all sports including swimming, basketball as well as dancing, even taking first place in a dance contest as a teen! Ginny was a “pretty good ice skater” which was a favorite activity when growing up. As a swimming, boating, and fishing enthusiast, it’s no surprise that her go to meal was anything seafood, her favorite being “fried clams.” Ginny loved her family very much. Virginia was a private person but kept relationships with all of her countless friends around the country and locally by calling them regularly, making brief visits and sending loving cards.
Ginny was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses since 1950 attending congregations in Granby, CT, West Springfield, MA and the last 54 years in Westfield, MA. She quietly supported herself through part-time positions from Hamilton Standard clerical work to Crisis Intervention in the mental health field. Something Ginny enjoyed was watching figure skating, lunches at Stanley Park and trips with her close friends. She enjoyed friendships with those of her age group, but also with young people whom she would seek out to spend time with and discuss things that were relevant, their schooling and future. A hallmark of Virginia Sibbach as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses was teaching Bible truths such as the hope of everlasting life on a paradise earth where peace and security will abound for all, including animals, under the rulership of God’s Kingdom, a heavenly government of which her hope was to be a part of. She helped many students to learn of God’s wonderful promises. (Psalms 37:11, 29; Isaiah 65:25; Revelation 21:3,4; 20:6; 5:9,10) This brought her great joy and satisfaction for the past 74 years. Over half of those years were spent in full-time evangelizing work for her community. There will be a memorial for Virginia Sibbach Saturday, July 20th, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 117 Southwick Road, Westfield, MA. Donations may be made in her memory at www.JW.org under donations.
