Obituary of Virginia "Ginny" Rose Tashjian

Virginia “Ginny” Rose Halajian Tashjian, 89, of Springfield, PA, born Feb. 17, 1931, passed away in her home on October 24, 2020. She was known as Ginny, Mom, MomMom, and hilariously (by a devoted and beloved following on social media) as “Granny on the Gram.” Born in Lynn Massachusetts to Armenian immigrants, Ginny was a first generation Armenian American. She grew up in the Bronx, New York, and worked for a short while for the phone company, before marrying Raymond Tashjian and moving to Philadelphia. She continued to be close with her parents and brother, and spent time in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, and took her children for summer vacations in Ronkonkoma, NY, at her parents’ homes. She moved from Crum Lynne to Sharon Hill, and ultimately chose Springfield to raise her children, where she lived for 57 years. Ginny was a dedicated, hard-working, smart, fun and feisty woman. Ginny was totally devoted to her family and raised them sacrificially and with much love. Her devotion to her family was exceptional, investing time, love, and wisdom. She was always there when you needed her. As a committed, loving mother and grandmother, her family meant the world to her. She had a huge impact and influence on her family’s life, and they were an integral part of hers. Mom was the family matriarch and we centered our world around her gratefully and willingly. She enjoyed the simple things in life, and rarely indulged in anything extravagant for herself. She was a giver. She could stay up late and get up early, outpacing her kids and even her grandkids. She enjoyed spending summers in Ocean City, NJ, and celebrating birthdays and holidays with her family, along with the simple, daily routines of life. She loved cooking for them and was famous for her shells with meat sauce and madzoon, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy and peas, macaroni and cheese, choereg, yalanchi, and always had a well-stocked refrigerator which she generously shared with anyone who came over. She was an excellent, avid card-player, enjoying board games and many competitive, lively games of high stakes progressive rummy with her family. A strong, independent woman, she managed her home on her own for 43 years. After working at PECO, Strawbridge and Clothier, and Kelly Girls, she worked for 22 years as a Secretary for Drexel University in the College of Business, Finance and Statistics, Quantitative Methods Department. She was truly loved and respected by her professors and co-workers. She enjoyed shopping, bargains, garage sales, reading, playing solitaire on the computer, doing crossword puzzles, wonderword, cooking and eating delicious food, watching the Game Show Network (especially Steve Harvey), reading scary novels, watching scary shows and movies with Joe, making videos with Eddie, eating dinners at her home with her grandsons, and going to the casino. She made many friends at the casino – people were drawn to her, both players and employees of Harrah’s in Chester. It was the highlight of her week to go and play the penny slot machines. Sometimes twice in one week! Ginny was there the last day before it closed in March because of covid, and returned the very day it re-opened. As “Granny on the Gram,” with over a million followers, Ginny touched the hearts of many around the world; in turn, they’d send her cards, heartfelt letters, and gifts. Many of the comments on the feeds were from folks who had had a mother or grandmother like her, and reflected sentiments that she reminded them of their loved ones and were missing them, or wished they had one like her. Steve Harvey was a fan, and different enterprises sent her gifts including garlic from multiple spice companies, smartwatches from Verizon, beer from Coors, and more. Ginny really loved reading the comments and letters from people around the world that enjoyed her antics on social media. Ginny knew and loved Jesus as LORD and raised her children in the Christian faith. Her family has great faith, comfort and peace knowing that she is indeed with her LORD Jesus and loved ones forever. As Ginny would exclaim, every morning, “Hallelujah!” Ginny was predeceased by her beloved parents, Dickran and Zartoohie (Karapiloian) Halajian, and her loving brother, Varoujan Halajian. She is survived by her son, Jim (Debbie) Tashjian and grandchildren Stephanie (Mike) Boyan and Peter; daughter Terry (Ed) Doyle and grandsons Eddie and Joe. And her beloved cat, Crystal and grand-dog Gloria, both of whom she spoiled with people food all the time. Services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, 356 Summit Road, Springfield PA 19064, with a visitation from 9:30 to 10:45 am. An evening visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Minshall Shropshire-Bleyler Funeral Home, Ltd. Middletown (Rte. #352) and Knowlton Rds., Middletown Twp., Media, PA 19063. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ginny’s memory may be made to “Meeting a Need,” a non-profit organization that was inspired by and helped Ginny with much needed care, and continues to help seniors and others in need (www.meetinganeed.com). Please make checks payable to Unity Center and send to: Unity Center-Meeting a Need, PO Box 133, Springfield, PA 19064. Please designate Meeting a Need in the description line and include Ginny Tashjian’s name with your gift. Even better, please consider volunteering, even one time, in Ginny’s memory for Meeting a Need. More info can be found on the website. The Doyle family would like to thank Alice Dolopei, who became a very special, beloved part of our family and to Mom as Mom’s caregiver, along with Alice Wright, both special women whom God brought to us at just the right time. Special thanks to Patricia Ruffin as well. We thank you for celebrating Mom with us. Our family is very thankful to the many people that befriended her, visited her, and helped her medically and in practical ways. We are especially grateful for her doctors who cared for her. We also thank the PT’s, OT’s, and other medical staff that were helpful. We are grateful to our friends and relatives for your prayers, kindness, and cares during her lifetime and even now, for Mom and for us, as we celebrate her life, her Homegoing, and our missing our Mom and MomMom being with us. Most important, we thank God for allowing her to be with us for so many precious years. Ginny requested those coming to the service to wear a happy color. She loved red and bright colors. She knew she was going Home to be with the LORD.