Virginia “Ginny” McLaughlin passed away Monday, September 8th surrounded by her loved ones. She grew up in Medford, Massachusetts and moved to Kennebunk in 1965. She worked for several years with a local eye doctor and opened the Kennebunk Optical Center in 1979 where she was the owner operator for almost 30 years.
A long time Rotary member, she received a lifetime Rotarian honor as well as being a Paul Harris Fellow. Her other community accomplishments included serving as a deacon and a choir member at the South Congregational Church, Little League team sponsor and serving with the Lion’s Club to provide eyeglasses for people in need. She volunteered her time at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities to repair and adjust the eyeglasses of the residents who also got one her famous “Ginny Hugs” as a bonus.
After the loss of her youngest son Mark to suicide in 1984 she was instrumental in starting SPARC (Suicide Prevention and Awareness Resource Council) as there were no resources or educational programs dealing with teenage suicide at the time. As a result a 24-hr hotline and printed materials were made available to anyone in need and continues to provide services through SMMC.
She was preceded in death by her infant daughter Sheri-Lynn (1966) and her son Mark (1984), her great-grandson Matthew (2008), and her granddaughter Amanda (2013). She leaves behind five children Dottie O’Keefe, Frankfort, KY, John O’Keefe, Peachtree City, GA, Candy O’Keefe Culp (John), Peachtree City GA, Jackie O’Keefe Lincoln (Brian), Ivor, VA, Laurie O’Keefe Pierce, Tampa Florida ten grandchildren; Jared Fleming, Elizabeth Young, Elliott Young, Molly Elam, John O’Keefe-Myrick, Dani Higgins, Kelly Higgins-Flagler, Jessica Pierce, Colin McLaughlin, and Caitlin McLaughlin, and ten great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, on Thursday evening from 5-8 pm. A funeral service will be held on Friday morning at 10 am at the South Congregational Church in Kennebunkport immediately followed by her burial at Hope Cemetery, Kennebunk.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the South Congregational Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 414, Kennebunkport, ME 04046