Virginia P. Ecklund

Virginia P. "Ginny" (Turmel) Ecklund died unexpectedly on April 24, 2016.

Ginny was born at the family farmhouse in Hudson, NH, on December 25, 1937, the 11th of 13 children born to Octavia and David Turmel. She attended school in Hudson, NH, graduating from Alvirne High School in 1955.

She was a stewardess for TWA for five years, based in Kansas City, MO. During this time she fell in love with Bill Ecklund, and they married on November 21, 1959. They raised three children in the Highlands section of Lowell. The family loved traveling throughout New England, spending summers at Hampton Beach, RV trips and many parties and gatherings with family and friends.

After her youngest child started school, she enrolled at Lowell State, graduating from the University of Lowell with a BS in Psychology and Elementary Education. She taught in Lowell Schools, notably 22 years at the City Magnet School, until her retirement in 2006.

Although Ginny and Bill devoted time for their children to ski at early ages, she began skiing at age 43. Both she and Bill were avid skiers, skiing New England, the American West and Europe.

Some of her favorite hobbies were gardening, taking much pleasure and pride in her lawn and gardens, trying out new recipes and baking sweets. She loved to visit her favorite city, San Francisco.

Ginny loved her grandsons and was active in their lives, including reading and doing homework with them, watching their baseball and basketball games, and spending time together at the "ski house."

Ginny is survived by her three children, Karen M. Ecklund and her husband Timothy Phelps of Springfield, NH, Tanya Hickey of Lowell, and William E. Ecklund of Nashua, NH; two grandsons, Zachery Hickey and Andrew Hickey, both of Lowell; her sisters and brothers, Cecile Falkowski, Yolanda Vaillancourt, Theresa Morin, Robert Turmel, Richard Turmel and his wife Jeanne, and Theodore Turmel; her sisters-in-law, Claire Crouse and Helen Ecklund; many nieces and nephews; and her former son-in-law Larry Hickey of Lowell.

Ginny was the sister of the late Roger, Gerard, Maurice, Marie and Edward Turmel, and Jane Barry; and sister-in-law of the late Roger Falkowski, Robert Morin, Lucien Vaillencourt, John Barry, Janice Turmel, Doris Turmel, Ernest Ecklund, Eric Ecklund, and George and Patricia Ecklund.

Friends may call at the FAY McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 105 MOORE STREET, LOWELL, on THURSDAY from 4 PM until 8 PM. Mrs. Ecklund’s FUNERAL will begin on FRIDAY MORNING at 10 o’clock from the Funeral Home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11 o’clock at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, (upper church) 144, East Merrimack St., Lowell. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Ginny’s memory be made to your favorite charity.

ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS; 978-459-9222; www.faymccabe.com.