Virginia Almonte passed away on May 16, 2023, at the age of 101.
She was born in Pittsfield, Maine on February 9, 1922, to Pasquale Almonte and Mary (Cianchette) Almonte who were born in Pettorano, Italy, then immigrated to Pittsfield.
Virginia graduated high school from Maine Central Institute in 1940.
In 1943 she was one of the first women to enlist in the newly formed Womens Marine Corps. She served her country well through World War II and through the 1950s and early 1960s and retired with the rank of Gunnery Sergeant after more than 20 years of service. Her service time included working for the Undersecretary of the Navy in both the Eisenhower (Fred Bantz) and Kennedy (Paul “Red” Fay) administrations. She also served overseas in the 1960s at the NATO Headquarters in Naples, Italy.
After her retirement from the Marines, she spent many years caring for her parents in both Florida and in Framingham, MA. Family was everything to Gini and she loved spending time with them, including her many cousins, nieces, nephews and their families. She lived out her final years in Southboro, MA.
She is survived by her brother Pierino (Percy) Almonte of Pittsfield Maine; her nephews Jack Wyman of Milford, MA and Jay (Cheryl) Wyman of Holliston, her nieces Jan Wyman (Paul) Porter of Upton and Jill Wyman (Owen) Ackerman of Ashland, great nieces and nephews Courtney Wyman (Carlos) Canto, Chris (Jackie) Wyman, Kali Ackerman and Cara Ackerman, as well as several great-great nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents and her sister and brother in law, Joyce (Almonte) and Stan Wyman, as well as her nephew Joel Wyman and nieces Jean Wyman and Jane Wyman.
Private services will be held for Gini by her family at a later date.
[Editor’s Note: My apologies for the delayed announcement. Although an obituary was posted in MetroWest Daily News on May 25th, it didn’t get picked up by news feeds. I just learned the news this morning.]
(Photo and Obituary via Morris-Johnston Funeral Home)
