ROCKLAND – Virginia Rae Howard Gross, 94, died peacefully, with her daughter and granddaughter at her side, Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at Windward Gardens in Camden.  

Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, August 20, 1923, she was the daughter of Joseph and Lillian Howard.  

Ginny married Roscoe ‘Hermie’ Gross on October 7, 1943.  The pair settled in Rockland soon after they were married.  For many years Ginny was a homemaker.  

When her daughter, Ruth, was just a baby, Ginny began raising her nephew Laurence ‘Buddy’ Howard, for over four years.  

She began working in local sardine factories when her daughter was 14.  Later she was employed with Van Baalens making bathrobes, working her way up to ‘Floor Lady’.  Ginny always enjoyed the many friendships she formed there.  

Together with her husband, she kept a large garden.  Hermie would tend it while she did all the canning. 

Her family looked forward to her homemade pies and cookies. They always requested the pies and her macaroni and cheese at any family gatherings.  

She was an avid bowler and she and her husband spent several nights a week at the bowling alley after their retirement.  

Her greatest love in life was her family, and she loved being around them.  She knit each grandchild and great-grandchild hats and mittens until her eye sight would not let her.  

She also took great joy in playing cards and cribbage with her friends.  She talked each morning with her closest and dearest friend, Louise Pietroski, until Louise passed away in 2016.  Up until a month ago, she enjoyed a cribbage game with her friend, Mary Rapose, nearly every day.  

Predeceased by her husband in 2003, her brother and his wife, Laurence ‘Bud’ and Helen Howard formerly of Ft. Myers, Florida, Ginny is survived by her daughter, Ruth Winchenbach, and her husband, Dana, of South Hope; her grandchildren, Wendy Eaton and her husband, Mike, of South Hope, Bob Winchenbach and his wife, Sarah, of Boothbay; her great-grandchildren, Megan Butterfield and her husband, Brett, of Newcastle; Lily Winchenbach, of Damariscotta; Dylan and Marissa Peters, of Boothbay; Elizabeth and Adam Eaton of South Hope; her great-great-granddaughters, Caroline and Hannah Butterfield, of Newcastle; nephew Laurence ‘Buddy’ Howard and his wife, Lory, of North Carolina; niece Barbara Robinson and husband Lynn of Tampa, Florida; as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews.  

The family wishes to thank Dr. Laurence for his years of care, as well as the staff at Quarry Hill.  

Family and friends are invited to visit from 10 to 11 a.m., with a celebration of her life held at 11 a.m.., Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.  A reception will follow at 104 Limerock, adjacent to the funeral home.   Interment will be held privately. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pope Memorial Humane Society, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, Maine.  

To share a memory or condolence with the Gross family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.