Virginia Gottesman

Virginia Aylward Gottesman, age 93, of Erie passed away on Saturday June 4, 2016 at her residence. She was born in Des Moines, IA on September 21, 1922 to the late William Lewis and Irene Hall Aylward.

Mrs. Gottesman was a graduate of Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois and Lawrence College, Appleton WI with a BA in Business. She was an airline stewardess for United Airlines for a year. She worked at Wesley Memorial Hospital Admissions office where she met and then married Leonard Gottesman, M.D.

She served as an executive secretary for Bash and Co. Stocks and Bonds, where she was urged to be a stocker broker in the early 1950’s. She declined knowing it would interfere with raising her son. She was subsequently employed as a social worker in a poverty stricken area of Cincinnati. She earned a teaching degree at Xavier University, then taught 5th grade and in Learning Disability classrooms for many years.

Ginny moved to Erie with her son and daughter-in-law in 1994 and loved the Erie community and being a joyous loving grandmother. She remained a furiously independent person even while living with cancer. She was a member of St. Jude the Apostle Church and worked as a volunteer at Shriner’s Hospital, Meals on Wheels and as a dog and cat lover, sponsored animals through Because You Care.

In addition to her parents, her sister Joanne A. Spangler of San Francisco preceded Virginia in death.

She is survived by her son, Dr. Max Gottesman, his wife, Dr. Jill Alexander, and grandson William Gottesman of Erie, two nieces, two nephews and several cousins. She was loved by her caretakers and friends, Debbie, Cheryl and Marie.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at St Jude the Apostle Church, 2801 W. 6th St. on Monday at 1 pm with Rev. Jason Feigh, presiding. Private burial at Gate of Heaven. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 602 West 10th Street, Erie, PA is handling the arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2115 W. 38th St., Erie, PA 16508 or Because You Care, 6041 West Rd., McKean, PA 16426. Send condolences at www.BurtonFuneralHome.com