Virginia M. Ried

Virginia M. Ried, devoted and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother , died on December 15 at the age of 94.  Known to her family ad friends as Ginny, she was born in Hortonville, NY on March 22, 1924, the daughter of Walter and Madeleine Dirie Werlau.  After graduating from Callicoon High School, she met Richard Ried, a returning WWII veteran who had moved to the Catskills from New York City.  They were married for 69 years. 

They soon started a poultry farm and a family.  Times were often tough, so when egg prices dropped in the late sixties, they decided to sell eggs directly to customers.  On their Saturday “egg route”, they went door-to-door which was a great opportunity to meet area residents.  In later years Virginia would fondly remember all the people she got to know.

In addition to the farm, Richard and Virginia operated Ried Stamps for over 40 year, selling stamps through the mail and at shows throughout New York and Pennsylvania.  Virginia, a stay-at-home mother for much of her life, took great pride in this endeavor and would bring smiles from others when she would say things such as, “I’m a businesswoman now!”  Through the business, they developed a wide circle of friends and took great pleasure seeing them, doing shows into their late eighties.

When she wasn’t working, Virginia took great joy in gardening, growing a gorgeous array of roses, gladiolas, petunias, zinnias, hostas.  Richard managed the garden while Virginia would can hundreds of jars of vegetables each year.  They were also avid baseball fans and each summer was highlighted by a visit to Philadelphia to see their beloved Phillies play a game or two.

Aa warm and generous person, Virginia donated to charities, particularly those working to improve the lives of Native Americans, protecting the environment and saving wildlife.  She once said, ‘I know that I can’t give a lot but I certainly can give something.”

Virginia is survived by her four children, Kathleen Meckle, Edward Ried, Donna Volpone (Jim) and Peggy Craig (Dale).  Also surviving are grandchildren Kara McElroy (Justin), Amber Ceballos (Jeff), Loren Meckle (Tara) and Alexis Volpone as well as great-grandchildren, James and Ryann McElroy, Ryan and Owen Ceballos, and Dylan and Riley Meckle, and several nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband Richard and son-in-law Donald Meckle.  

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon, NY.  A memorial service will be held in the Spring of 2019.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Delaware Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Hortonville Volunteer Fire Department, the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20047 or The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, Va.  22203-1606.

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