Bertha “Bea” Ginga, a lifelong resident of Southborough and its beloved unofficial mayor, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by those who loved her on October 12, 2026, a date made especially poignant as it would have been her 63rd wedding anniversary with her beloved husband, Doc.
To know Bea was to know a little piece of Southborough itself. For nearly 60 years, she was the heart and soul of the Southborough Community House, caring for the building and, more importantly, the generations of people who passed through its doors. Whether welcoming Santa as he arrived by helicopter, helping with the annual Easter egg hunt, or simply making sure every child felt special, Bea helped create memories that became part of the town’s history.
For decades, Bea was also a familiar face at “the Spa”, the beloved local gathering place where generations of families stopped for breakfast, lunch, and conversation. Between “the Spa” and the Community House, there were few people in Southborough whose lives Bea hadn’t touched.
Bea was a woman of remarkable loyalty, generosity, humor, and an unmistakable personality. She was happiest in comfortable clothes, surrounded by people she loved, and never felt the need to be anything other than exactly who she was.
Bea was predeceased by her husband, Henry “Doc” Ginga, her parents, Lawrence and Hilda Misener of Southborough, her siblings Catherine Kane and Mary Dion of Marlborough, John Misener of Southborough, Peggy Bateman of Natick, Dorothy Santella of Marlborough, and Josephine Williams of Clinton.
She also leaves behind her soulmate and lifelong companion, Betty Minnucci of Southborough. Their extraordinary bond, built over decades of friendship, love, laughter, and unwavering devotion, was one of the great constants in Bea’s life. She also leaves many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.
Bea lived her entire life in Southborough, and gave so much of herself to the town she called home. Her legacy lives on in the generations of families who knew her, the countless children she made feel important, and the community she helped shape.
Southborough will never have another Bea, and those fortunate enough to have known her will never forget her.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Morris-Johnston Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM at St. Matthew Church, 26 Highland Street, Southborough, MA 01772. Burial will follow at Southborough Rural Cemetery, 11 Cordaville Road, Southborough, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bea’s memory to the Southborough Village Society, 28 Main St., Southborough, MA 01772 or the Southborough Senior Center, 9 Cordaville Rd., Southborough, MA 01772 a place she loved and devoted so much of her life to. To honor Bea’s memory, her family encourages you to follow her example by giving back to your community. Volunteer your time, lend a helping hand, and to make a difference in the lives of those around you. There could be no greater tribute to a woman who gave so much of herself to the town she loved.
(Photo and Obituary via Morris-Johnston Funeral Home)
