NORWICH – Virginia Prytherch, 89, of Norwich, passed away Wednesday evening, Oct. 19, 2011, in the Good Shepherd Village of Endwell.
Virginia was born in New London, Iowa in November of 1921 the daughter of Albert and Martha Fehler Gill. On July 3, 1948 in Norwich she married John Pershing Prytherch, who passed away Dec. 31, 1990.
Virginia came to New York with her family at the early age of three and they settled in the Deposit area. She grew up in the Deposit area and attended the local school. Deciding to further her education, Virginia attended and graduated from Buffalo State Teacher’s College with her teaching degree. Following her graduation she came to the Norwich area where she began her teaching career. Over the years Virginia had taught in the Rexford Street school as well as Perry Browne, where she taught the fourth grade. In 1980, Virginia retired from teaching to begin her second “career.” Following a serious brain injury to her son Doug, she took on the role of nurse and rehabilitator. She worked countless hours and many years to help her son regain the quality of life he enjoys today. Over the years she remained very active in the Brain Injury Association where she had served as President for a period of time.
As a family member said, “Happiness is like jam – you can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself – Virginia got a lot of jam on herself.” She was always kind to everyone who needed a lift, help or encouragement from her.
Virginia is survived by her children, Suzanne Prytherch and her husband John Discepolo of Cape Coral, FL, and Douglas Prytherch of Norwich, her sister-in-law Margaret Gill of West Windsor and her nieces and nephews, Donald and Alan Schroeder, Barbara Pugh, Sandra Crean, Sharon Sherrard, James and Kenneth Gill and Marcia Moulton and all of their spouses. Several great nieces and nephews also survive.
Besides her husband John, Virginia was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Gordon Mott, her brothers and sisters-in-law Fred and Laura Schroeder, Howard and Grace Gill, her brothers Harold and Robert Gill and a nephew Richard Mott.
Funeral services for Virginia will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday from the Broad Street United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jeff Hale, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday from 5-7 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to The New York State Brain Injury Association, c/o Paula Schmidt, P.O. Box 7266, Endicott, NY 13761