Virginia Johnston 1951-2026
WARREN – Virginia “Ginny” Johnston, 74, passed away Monday, March 2, 2026, with family by her side, while at Hospice of the Valley Hospice House in Poland.
She was born May 25, 1951, in Warren, daughter of the late Arthur and Mary DePascale.
Ginny was a 1969 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and met her husband, Robert “Rus,” at Kent State University.
She was blessed that she got to work alongside her mother, father, husband and sons at Mary M’s Restaurant and Rusty’s Southside Grill. She also loved her first job at the Treadway Inn in Aurora and her later-in-life job at Hallmark / Gorant’s in Warren, but her true passions were cooking for her family and friends and event planning. She had a knack for making things memorable by finding that little extra something and putting love into everything she did.
She spent decades donating her time and energy to the “Just for Kicks” auction at JFK, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and yearly planning for the American Cancer Society Golf Outing. She loved entertaining, playing cards with her family and making sure everyone else had the best time ever.
Surviving are her children, David (Leanna) Johnston of Cleveland and Michael Johnston of Warren; two granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; and sisters, Marianne (Richard) Antonelli and Michelle Notar.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rus; parents, Arthur and Mary Depascale, and Lew and Marge Johnston; brother, Michael; and brother-in-law, Danny Notar.
Family and friends may visit and pay tribute to Ginny during memorial calling hours 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel, 1884 North Road NE, Warren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the John F. Kennedy High School Scholarship Fund, Hospice of the Valley Hospice House and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to her caregivers at University Hospital Siedman Cancer Center, UH Portage and Hospice of the Valley Hospice House for excellent care and giving her peace.
Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Ginny’s family.
(special notice)