Englewood, Fla. – Virginia M. “Bunny” Corey, 81, of Englewood, Fla., formerly of Shrewsbury, died at her home with family surrounding her.
She leaves six children, Barbara J. Walker of Englewood, Fla., with whom she lived; James J. Corey and his wife, Donna, of Cranston, R.I.; Kathleen E. Hopkins of Portsmouth, R.I.; Laurene T. Corey of Worcester; Margaret E. Gould of Whitinsville; and Diane C. Tonelli and her husband, Richard, of North Grafton. She leaves a brother, Robert Bourgeois and his wife, Patricia, of Spencer; a brother-in-law, Henry Perron of Leicester; 14 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; and cousins, nieces, nephews, and three very close friends, Evelyn, Nancy, and Gert. She was predeceased by her parents, John B. and Anna E. (O”Keefe) Bourgeois; a daughter, Mary Corey; a brother, John Bourgeois; her sisters, Margaret Perron, and Elizabeth Dyer; and her sons-in-laws, Richard Walker and Peter Hopkins.
She attended St. Paul's Elementary School and graduated South High School, Worcester, in 1950. She moved to Shrewsbury in 1956 and resided there until moving to Englewood, Fla. in 2008.
Virginia graduated cum laude from Worcester State College in 1972 with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education. She taught at St. Mary's Parochial School in Shrewsbury for nine years, teaching math, science, and social studies.
She worked for GC services from 1980 until1984 when she left the business workforce to collaborate with her daughter at Barbara's Cake Emporium in Westborough. In 1987, she went to work for GMAC in Westborough until her retirement.
Virginia was a member of St. Mary's Parish in Shrewsbury since she first moved to Shrewsbury. She was active in the religious sorority “Daughters of Isabella,” serving as an officer, a regent, and a state regent. She was a member of the Shrewsbury chapter of the Massachusetts Democratic Committee, serving as delegate on both the state and national level. She was a member of St. Mary's “Jet Set” Group, the Shrewsbury Women's Club and a local member of the Red Hat Society.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Virginia's family Saturday, Jan. 25, from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., in the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury. A funeral Mass celebrating Virginia's life will follow at 10 a.m. in Saint Mary's Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Saint Mary's Respect Life Committee, 20 Summer St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
