- Date Of Birth: February 6, 1938
- Date Of Death: October 5, 2017
- State: Massachusetts
GROVELAND – Virginia May Basken, a longtime Stoneham resident, died October 5, at her home in Groveland after a lengthy illness. She was 79.
Virginia is survived by her husband of 60 years, Paul Basken; their children Christine Basken and her husband Mark Copeland of Newcastle, UK; Paul Basken and his wife Maureen Greenwood-Basken of Chevy Chase, MD; Heidi Basken and her husband Richard Plasse of Haverhill; Dana Basken of Salem, NH; Christopher Basken and his wife Katherine of Barrington, NH; and Daniel Basken of Malden. Her daughter Caroline Basken-Balzar, wife of Steve Balzar of Custer, KY, died in 2015.
Virginia leaves behind five grandchildren: Lorelei Basken, Frederick Basken, Celeste Basken, Riley Basken and Halley Basken.
Virginia was born Feb 6, 1938, the daughter of Frederick Alton Bernklow and Marjorie Elizabeth Corkum. She was raised in Thompson, CT, and was the surviving sister of five brothers, Harold Hatch, Ralph Bernklow, David Bernklow, Frederick Bernklow and Francis Bernklow.
A 30-year resident of Stoneham, Virginia was an avid genealogist, and a former secretary of the Essex Society of Genealogists. She traveled to many locales near and far, in the United States and abroad, researching and exploring history of all types. She spent countless hours as a volunteer at Lynnfield Public Library.
While raising her family she also took time to return to school, earning an associate in science in business administration with high honors in 1984 and a certificate in paralegal studies with high honors in 1986, both from Middlesex Community College. She then worked in the legal profession for a number of years.
“Ginny” loved music boxes and adored dolls – and was a passionate collector of both. She was talented at sewing, and a voracious consumer of crossword puzzles. She loved gardening, hiking and square dancing with her husband. They traveled the country many times in their beloved Airstream over a 20-year period. Her name graces Virginia Lane, the site of her family home off North Street in Stoneham.
She faced life with strength and humor and a smile, and is sorely missed by all who knew her.
