Virginia (Eaton) Rich

PEABODY- Mrs. Virginia (Eaton) Rich 84, of Brooksby Village, Peabody, formerly of Lexington, beloved wife of the late Irving "Buddy" Rich Jr. died Saturday November 12, 2011 at Salem Hospital, following a short illness surrounded by her family.

Born in Somerville, she was the daughter of the late Gordon E. and Virginia R. (Ernst) Eaton. She was raised and educated in Lexington and was a member of the graduating class of 1945 from Lexington High School. She continued her education at the New England Conservatory of Music.
A trained and talented musician, Mrs. Rich taught piano and the organ for many years.

A life long resident of the Town of Lexington, Virginia and her husband were high school sweethearts and were active members of the Lexington Community, where they made their home. She played the Organ at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Lexington, the Hancock Congregational Church in Lexington and the First Baptist Church in Lexington. She was a past president of the P.T.A. in Lexington, she was a member of the Tandem Club of the Hancock Congregational Church in Lexington and donated much of her time volunteering at the former Metropolitan State Hospital. A dedicated wife and mother, Virginia was a participant in all of the clubs and organizations that her sons belonged to including volunteering as a den mother while David was a member of the Cub Scouts and immense involvement of her sons while they were entrenched with DeMolay. Her family was the most important part of her life and she was a dedicated and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be greatly missed. A resident of Brooksby Village since 2005, Mrs. Rich made many friends and joined many of the activities and groups that Brooksby has to offer. Her outgoing and warm nature allowed her to make friends easily and once you became friends with Virginia you were friends for life.

Virginia is survived by her son, David G. Rich and her daughter-in-law Deborah Rich of DeLand, Florida and her son, Gary S. Rich and her daughter-in-law Anne Harrold of North Andover, her grandchildren, Leslie Smith and her husband Slade of DeLand, Fl, Jamie Rich and Julie Rich of Orlando, Fl, Michael Rich and his wife Dona of Warrensburg, MO, Andrew Rich and his wife Sherry of Orlando, Fl, Kristi Machado and her husband Gabriel of Ft.Meade, Maryland, Robin Harrold of Haverhill and Jaclyn Massihzedgan and her husband Zubin of Andover, her great grandchildren, Ashton Rich, Shannon Rich and Colton Smith, her siblings, Alice Benson and her husband Melvin of Agawam, Malcolm Eaton of Westford, Nancy Fulks and her husband Bob of North Chatham, sister-in-law, Theresa Eaton, and many nieces and nephews. She was also the mother of the late Jeffery Rich and sister-in-law of the late Lester Rich.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her memorial service will be held in the Chapel at Brooksby Village, 300 Brooksby Village Dr., Peabody, Saturday, November 19th at 2 P.M. Relatives and friends invited. Graveside Internment service will be held in Westview Cemetery, Lexington, Saturday morning November 19th at 11 A.M. Assisting the family with the arrangements is the Peterson-O'Donnell Funeral home 167 Maple St., (rte 62) Danvers.

IN lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Virginia's memory to the Shriners Burns Institute, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114.

To share a memory or offer a condolence; visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com or for further information, inquire at 978-774-6600.