Virginia Gonsalves, 96

Virginia “Ginny” “Figa” Cecilio Gonsalves, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026 at age 96. She was predeceased by her beloved daughter, Paula, and her husband, Frank “Chuck” Gonsalves. Born and raised in Tisbury, Virginia was the second youngest of nine children. She graduated from Tisbury School as the valedictorian of her class, with strong aspirations of continuing her education. As a woman of color facing the limited opportunities and barriers of her time, Virginia was ultimately forced to put her educational dreams aside and began working alongside her mother, providing laundry and housekeeping services to local families. She would later take over her mother’s laundry business when her mother became ill. Shortly after high school, Virginia married the love of her life, Chuck. Together, they moved across the street from her childhood home, where they began building a family of their own.

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