Virginia T. Lyons, at 99

Virginia T. “Ginny/Gigi” Lyons, age 99, passed away on July 9, 2024, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her daughter Jinny (Gagan) Nealon and her husband, Jack, formerly of Hull and her son Bill Gagan and his wife, Susan; as well as three grandchildren: Jordan, Taylor, and Connor Gagan, all of Bow, N.H. She was predeceased by her parents, John D. and Julia B (Byron) Lyons of Dorchester, and her siblings, Mary A.(Yaya) Collins and her husband, Jerry, of Portland, Oregon; Marguerite (Sissy) Lyons of Dorchester; Julia B (Bebe) Golden and her husband, James (Jimmie), of Hull and Milton; and John D.(Jack) Lyons, Jr. and his wife, Ruth, of Squantum. 

Ms. Lyons attended school at the St. Gregory Parish schools in Dorchester from elementary through high school and the Boston Trade School in Roxbury, where she developed a love for sewing, especially millinery. As a child, she studied the piano and elocution and was involved in many recitals for both. Her winters were spent in Dorchester, where she was an exceptional ice skater. The family spent summers in their beloved Hull, enjoying all the beach had to offer. Ms. Lyons loved rowing her boat in Hull Bay, swimming, playing tennis, participating in Hull Gala Days, and exploring the islands, especially Bumpkin Island. 

After school, Ms. Lyons was a milliner’s apprentice in the historic textile area of Boston. Following that apprenticeship, she was employed by the bridal designer Priscilla of Boston on Newbury Street as a runway model for bridal dresses and the head designer of the bridal veil department. Always up for an adventure, she often told of the glamorous buyers’ trips the Priscilla staff would take to New York City and the lavish restaurants and Broadway shows they would enjoy while in New York. Her favorite show was “The King and I” starring Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence. Ms. Lyons was always fun-loving; whether it was family events for birthdays, weddings, or funerals, whenever the entire extended family was together, it was always a great time.

Following Priscilla, Ms. Lyons married and settled in Dorchester, Hyde Park, and finally, Hull. During that time, she was employed in a variety of jobs, such as salesperson in Remick’s of Quincy, Gates department store in Scituate, Talbots in Hingham, Priscilla’s Bridal Shop in Braintree, and in the Hull school system as a monitor in the lunch room of the Jacobs Elementary School. 

Ms. Lyons loved to dance, sing, knit, sew, make veils for brides and first communicants, garden, read, spend time with her friends and family, and watch “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” every night, but her favorite pastime was being in Hull and sitting on her porch on Cadish Avenue watching the sailboats in Hull Bay and counting the airplanes that flew in and out of Logan Airport, wondering where they were going to or coming from. She loved her family and friends and she will be missed.

A memorial Mass will take place at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish on Monday, September 9 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a celebration to be announced at a later date.

Donations can be made in Ginny’s memory to the Friends of the Paragon Carousel, the Alzheimer’s Association, or the Boston Archdiocese Catholic TV.

To leave the Lyons family a condolence message, please visit www.dolanfuneral.com.