Mrs. Virginia Denmead Spicer

Virginia Denmead Spicer, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 2, 2023, at her home in West Friendship, Maryland surrounded by her loving family. She was 99 years old. Born on February 12, 1924, to Veda Lorraine Roche and Joseph Francis Roche, Sr, Virginia was the oldest of three children. Most of her childhood was spent in Baltimore City, growing up with her parents and two brothers, Joseph Francis Roche, Jr, and Albert William Roche. An important point in Virginia’s life came at the age of 14 while attending Forest Park High School. It was there she met Chester Martin Spicer, her future husband. Virginia and Chester would eventually be married in January 1942, while Chester was on leave from the United States Navy. Virginia and Chester had three daughters whom they loved dearly: Nancy Lee (Broderick), Denise Ann (Behrens), and Patricia Denmead (Winters). While raising her family, Virginia worked retail and then as a Printed Circuit Assembler for the Westinghouse Corporation, a position she held for 25 years until her retirement in 1985. Following her retirement, she focused on caring for her husband until his death in 1987, after which she moved to West Friendship to live with her daughter, Denise, and next door to her oldest daughter, Nancy. It was in this loving home, where Virginia spent the last 36 years creating life-long memories with her family and living a life filled with kindness, generosity, joy, and, most importantly, love. Virginia devoted her life to her family. Quite simply, family meant everything to her and she meant everything to her family. As a two-time cancer survivor she was an extraordinary woman who embodied strength, courage, resiliency, dedication, caring, and love. Virginia never left an occasion, ended an evening, or finished a conversation without letting her family know just how much she truly loved them. Whether it was through cooking one of her countless signature meals or desserts, raising her daughters, caring for her husband, caring for her mother, helping to raise her four grandchildren, or enjoying time and special moments with her 11 great-grandchildren, Virginia lived life to the fullest with her family. Very few people are willing to give so much of themselves to others as Virginia did. Her smile, spirit, and love uplifted all those she met and her family has been blessed to have her as an important part of their lives for such a long period of time. In the weeks leading up to her death, Virginia’s family had the opportunity to visit her and have many heartfelt conversations. In those conversations, Virginia remained unwavering in her final message - “Know how much I loved all of you, be kind to one another, and take care of each other”. Virginia will live on for generations in her family as a remarkable example of a life well-lived. Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, Veda and Joseph Roche, Sr., her brothers, Joseph Jr. and Albert, and her husband, Chester. She is lovingly survived by her daughters and their spouses - Nancy (Ronald) Broderick, Denise (Charles) Behrens, and Patricia (Eugene) Winters, along with her four grandchildren and their spouses - Craig (Lelia) Broderick, Michael (Erika) Winters, Christopher (Elizabeth) Winters, and Kimberly (Robert) Rullan. In addition, she is also survived by her 11 great-grandchildren, Megan, Caroline, Hayden, Samantha, Emma, Alexandra, Delaney, Taylor, Graham, Olivia, and Kelsey, along with her sister-in-law, Hilda Roche, and many loving extended family members. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, MD 21784. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 1:00 pm at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1125 Saint Michaels Rd, Mount Airy, MD 21771. The funeral mass may be viewed on the Saint Michael Church live-stream link on Thursday, 6/8/23, at 1:00 pm at https://www.youtube.com/@saintmichaelpoplarsprings8308/streams Immediately following the funeral mass, a luncheon will be held in the St. Michael’s Church Hall. All are welcome. A private family burial will be on Friday, June 9, 2023, at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, Virginia requested gifts be made to the University of Maryland Medical Center, where she received wonderful care over the past two decades. Gifts can be made online at www.ummsfoundation.org/donate When making an online donation, please direct your gift to either the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Hematologic Malignancies Research Fund or the UMMC Nursing Fund, which will go to the Adult Emergency Department. Gifts may also be mailed with a memo indicating that this gift is in memory of Virginia Spicer to the UMMS Foundation, 110 S. Paca St. 9th floor, Baltimore, MD 21201. Please make checks payable to: UMMS Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.haightfuneralhome.com

Mrs. Virginia Denmead Spicer

February 12, 1924 - June 2, 2023