WILMINGTON — Jean Virginia Marinich, aka “Ginny” or “Cuckoo,” was born on Dec 22nd, 1938 in Brooklyn, NY. She lived in many beautiful places like Bermuda, Sullivan’s Island, Columbia, MD, Charlotte and ultimately in Wilmington, NC for the last eight years of her life. She got her wings peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on January 4, 2026.
Cuckoo loved adventures. These came in a variety of forms such as hiking, exploring, and sometimes trespassing. She typically returned from these adventures with blood and makeshift bandages on wounds she collected along the way. To her, a “No Trespassing!” sign was not considered a word of caution, rather, a delightful invitation! Especially if there was an old house or structure that she deemed potentially full of treasures. Sign be damned – SHE WAS GOING IN! She was the master of the great find. Her home was once described as “a fairy’s house” filled with beautiful trinkets from her many outings.
Ginny’s empathy for all living creatures will forever remain UNMATCHED. She loved and cared for all animals, homeless people, construction workers, and ANYONE downtrodden. When choosing a dog from a shelter, she was quite determined to pick the one most in need, regardless of condition. Her true life’s passion was restoring animals, people, and things. Many have told her, “when I die, I would love to come back as one of your dogs.”
She loved stained glass, books, learning, Mexican food trucks, planting flowers, cleaning, shining, making cookies, pulling long heavy vines from tall trees, sitting in a river or ocean with her clothes on, seashells, crafting projects, and pretty things. She would slowly, methodically stroke these pretty things with her fingers, seeming to soak into her soul, every ounce of their beauty.
Cuckoo was an avid fan of ANY sport her children and grandchildren enjoyed. She has stood on many dance stages, sidelines, and horse farms, sometimes in freezing rain, wind, and snow, with socks on her hands and feet wrapped in grocery bags to stay warm. We call her The Trooper.
She was an amazing friend and mother, and a devoted and giving neighbor. She leaves a gaping hole in the lives of all who knew her. May we each be blessed to have even a drop of her character.
Ginny is survived by her children, Greg, Diana, and Elizabeth, her children in-law, Mary Catherine, Michael, and Drew, her seven grandchildren; Jack, Nicholas, Megan, Erin, Mick, Benjamin, and Jeremy, one great grandchild, Ivan Robert (4 months old), her Malone sisters, Susan and Nancy, her newly found Stewart siblings, Joan, James, Charles, Robert, Helen, and Richard, and many dear friends who adored her.
A Celebration of Ginny’s Life will be held on Saturday, January 31 at 1:00pm at 2611 N. Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC. Lunch will be served in one of Cuckoo’s favorite ways. Free overflow parking is available across the street in Wrightsville Beach public access #2.
