Virginia Foley - Obituary

irginia Kehoe Foley, a Fort Washington real estate agent and an active member of the Tantallon community, died April 4, 2013 at the age of 90. Virginia Kehoe was born in New York City on October 22, 1922, the youngest of five siblings born to James Francis and Margaret Murray Kehoe. Hired by the Wall Street law firm of Donovan Leisure during World War II as a receptionist, Virginia was ultimately promoted to Law Librarian. In 1951, she fired one of her employees, NYU law student and law clerk Matthew James Foley, when he informed her that the U.S. Air Force was recalling him to active duty. Virginia and his coworkers wished him well in an after-work celebration, which eventually led to Virginia and Matthew’s wedding on May 3, 1952, in St. Patrick's Cathedral and their marriage of sixty years. Touring the world as part of Matthew’s military career, Virginia and Matthew were stationed in Bermuda, England, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Germany, and Washington, D.C. They settled in Fort Washington, Maryland, in 1964, with their three sons, Matthew, Mark, and John. During her fifty years residing in Fort Washington, Virginia was active in the Prince George’s County community, her church at St. Mary’s of Piscataway, and local politics. Among her many roles, Virginia served as the founding president of the Apple Grove Elementary Parent Teachers Association, president of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, and president of the Tantallon Citizens Association. After obtaining her real estate license in 1973, Virginia initially worked at Nyman Realty and subsequently for Coldwell Banker. Matt and Virginia were also renowned party hosts at their Tantallon residence. An avid card player, Virginia organized and participated in numerous bridge clubs, and her grandchildren enjoyed the challenge of trying to beat “Mimi” in highly-contested games of Hearts or Gin Rummy. Matthew died unexpectedly in January 2013 at the age of ninety two, and Virginia joined her beloved husband on April 4. She is survived by her three sons, Matthew Jr. (Kim), Mark (Suzanne), and John (Kevin) and her five grandchildren, Matthew III, Katherine, Brian, Clare, and Hannah, as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to Virginia's Life Celebration on Wednesday, April 17 from 5 to 8pm at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Thursday, April 18 at 11:30am at St. Mary's Catholic Church - Piscataway, 13401 Piscataway Rd., Clinton, MD 20735. Interment Arlington National Cemetery at 2pm.