Virginia "Ginny" E. (Deutsch) Rao

Virginia E. “Ginny” Rao, 81, of Kensington, beloved wife of John J. Rao, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 at UCONN Health Center in Farmington.

Born and raised in New Britain, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Emily Deutsch. Ginny graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1960. She then went on to receive her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education from Central Connecticut State University. After graduating with her Bachelor’ degree in 1964, Ginny went on to teach Elementary Education in the Plainville school system for 35 years. Ginny was born to teach. She was a natural and loved working with children. After retiring from teaching in 1999, Ginny went on to volunteer at Griswold Elementary School in Kensington as a teacher’s aide, continuing her love of working with children. Her skills were greatly appreciated. She was a member of the National and Connecticut Education Associations.

In 1965, Ginny met her husband John, and they were married in 1968. They moved to Kensington in 1971 and have lived there ever since. She was a devoted and loving wife of 56 years. Ginny was a parishioner of St. Paul’s Church in Kensington.

When away from teaching, she loved walking along the beaches of Rhode Island and the trips Maine beaches. Sports were also a part of Ginny’ s life, ski trips to Vermont and golfing at numerous courses in Connecticut and Vermont with her husband, John. After spending so much time in Vermont, they decided to buy a second home there. They both loved having family and friends visiting and staying over. It was an enjoyable time in Ginny’s life . It was a place where family and friends could gather together. Ginny was always a lot of fun to be with, greeting everyone with a smile. She lived most of her life with Type 1 diabetes, never letting it bother her or complaining. Anyone who had the privilege to know Ginny, realized she was a special person. She will truly be missed by many.

Surviving are her husband of 56 years, John J. Rao; her sister, Diane L. Deutsch of Killington, VT; her sister in law Judith Redford, of Phoenix, AZ; two nieces, Emily Deutsch and Andrea Munks; many cousins and many friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by an infant son, John Michael Rao.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at 11:30 AM at St. Paul Church.  Burial will be in South Burying Ground, Kensington.  Calling hours will be held on Saturday morning at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin, 111 Chamberlain Hwy., Berlin, from 9:30 to 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.