Virginia A (Lewis) Burbank

Virginia A. (Lewis) Burbank, 85, went to the Lord on Sunday, February 9th, 2025, after a brief illness.  Virginia (Gigi) was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, on July 19, 1939, the daughter of the late Charles Lewis and Helen (Bishop) Lewis.

She was the wife of the late Joseph Burbank and the sister of the late Marilyn (Lewis) Birnie. She is survived by a daughter, Leah Burbank, Leah’s companion Karen Turner, and Karen’s son Nikhil Turner, as well as nieces Heidi Cerullo and Rachel Haley.

Gigi was taught by many inspiring nuns at Cardinal Cushing High School in South Boston.

Gigi's mother, Helen, owned a dance studio in Dorchester, Mass and taught there when Gigi was young. Gigi and her sister, Marilyn studied Tap, Ballet, and Jazz and were both very talented dancers. When Gigi was 19 years old, she toured for a summer with a professional dance troupe.

She graduated from Boston State College. She taught English at Cohasset High School for many years. And before that she taught in Hull, Mass at The Jacobs School and Memorial Middle School.

During her long career at Cohasset High, Gigi directed her students on stage in Shakespearean plays through her involvement in the English Humanities Program and ran the Hingham School of Dance with her sister Marilyn. 

She was an engaging, fun and dynamic educator and was inventive with her teaching techniques, teaching her students vocabulary and grammar using rhythm and song, for example.

Gigi was also the host of her own Christian cable show called “You are the Light of the World”, interviewing many inspiring people involved in the Christian community.

An avid traveler with an appreciation for different cultures, she studied Italian at Middlebury College, spoke the language fluently, went on many trips to Italy with her family throughout the years, and even lived in Europe for a year, travelling to many different countries.

Following her retirement from teaching, she established an antique business in Plymouth with her dear friend Rosalind McKenna. During this time, she became adept at reupholstering furniture.

Her life was changed after visiting her sister Marilyn’s ministry Kenya. Virginia was inspired and a brilliant vision came to light for her, to build an orphanage for children orphaned by AIDs and domestic violence in Kenya. After returning to Cohasset, she began raising funds for the project she named An Orphan’s Dream.

Through the generosity of many friends and donors, land was purchased in Gachoka, Kenya and construction began in 2010 for the orphanage, named Oasis of Peace. Virginia lived there for 9 years, directing its spiritual life, the day-to-day education of the students and the operation of the household. Many children entered the orphanage and thrived under her care and that of the “mothers” who were part of the staff. The orphanage continues to thrive to this day, providing a nurturing home for 40 to grow and strengthen their education and spirituality and prepare for a successful launch into adulthood.

After returning from Kenya, Virginia resided at Brookdale House in Quincy and eventually at the Harbor House in Hingham. Virginia was very grateful for the care she received at both facilities as well as from the staff on the fifth floor of the Pratt Building at South Shore Hospital.

She also enjoyed great friendship, care and devotion over the years from her closest friends, Susan Finn, Krisi Richards, Carol McLaughlin, and Paula Young.

Donations in Virginia’s memory can be made to An Orphan’s Dream online at www.anorphansdream.org or via mail at P.O. Box 692727, Quincy MA 02269.

There will be a celebration of Virginia’s life and her legacy at An Orphan’s Dream annual fundraiser on Sunday, June 8 at the Quincy Yacht Club, 1310 Sea St, Quincy, MA 02169 from 3:00-7:00PM. Information on the event is available at www.anorphansdream.org.

The Rev. Michael McNamara will officiate at the burial service on Tuesday, May 27, at 1 p.m. at Village Cemetery, 339 Washington St., Weymouth.