Virginia Ann Pfeffer

VIRGINIA ANN PFEFFER (nee Flaherty); 98, of Maple Heights, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026. 

Virginia was born to William & Rosemary Flaherty in 1927 and was the 4th of 10 children. She grew up in Maple Heights, but also spent several years with her maternal grandmother, Helen Mayer, in Sidney, Ohio, and developed a very close relationship with her. The Flaherty family was very close, and still is, and Virginia treasured her relationship with all her siblings as well as her nieces and nephews.

Virginia attended St. Wenceslas grade school and Maple Heights HS graduating in 1945. She went to work in the insurance industry like her father as a clerical worker and shortly thereafter met the “love of her life” George O. Pfeffer, who coincidently lived across the street from her and George was also was a 1945 graduate of Maple Heights H S, but really didn’t know each other until her brother, Bob, set them up on a date. That was all it took for both of them, they quickly fell in love and in May of 1949, George and “Ginny” as, Dad always called her, were wed. They both loved big band music and going dancing. In 1951 they moved to Bedford, Ohio, and started raising a family, eventually having three children. Virginia was the prototypical 50’s wife and mother in the Harriet Nelson and June Cleaver mold, always there for her kids and husband. She was the most amazing mom and was active in girl scouts and cub scouts and whatever was required to support them. One of the highlights of being part of the George and Ginny family was the family trips. Dad was the forerunner Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold character in National Lampoon’s Vacation movie making sure his family saw this great country from his version of the “family truckster”, with trips to upstate New York, Florida, Wyoming, California, the Grand Canyon, Colorado Rockies, Michigan, and Canada in the summers and many ski trips to New York, Vermont, and Canada in the winters. It was amazing they all survived unscathed on these trips as this predates cell phones, GPS locating services, and early on even air conditioning, but all did and the memories made have lasted a lifetime and beyond. Ginny was always the willing co-pilot, although there were many times when Dad had to snatch the map from her as while she was a wonderful and supportive traveling companion, she was not always the best navigator. 

After her husband was taken from her much too early in 1974, Ginny carried on maintaining the same family homestead in Bedford for over 50 more years. She had various jobs thereafter working at May Company at Southgate and in Sears cafeteria at Randall Mall for many years. She had enjoyed playing the piano as a girl and eventually got a small keyboard so she could continue playing as she grew older and she played very well. She always loved her many “four-foot” companions, especially her doggies, from Amos, to Lady, to Rocky and they all lived well beyond their usual life spans, certainly due to her very attentive and loving care. Virginia loved her children, then her grandchildren, and then her great grandchildren and they all loved her. She loved traveling to see her daughter, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren who live in North Carolina. She also so enjoyed visiting with her brothers and sisters and attending the many Flaherty reunions that were a regular event about every three years since the late 1970’s. She loved to read and savored eating her favorite foods from steak, to cheesecake, to nut rolls, to banana bread, to her favorite Christmas cookie, almond crescents, which she had baked with the help of her wonderful caregiver, Davina, just shortly before her passing. She also still enjoyed a small glass of Bud Light, or better yet, her favorite cream sherry that would last several days, having to place a napkin over it to prevent it from evaporating between her well-spaced sips. 

Virginia will be unbelievably missed, but never forgotten, and we take solace in knowing that she is now dancing in heaven with her beloved George. 

Virginia was the beloved wife of the late George O.; Loving mother of George H. Pfeffer (Linda), Carol Ciresi (Sal), and Janet Glovan (late Tony); Cherished grandma of Kevin Pfeffer (Samantha), Amy Horvath (Ryan), Nicole Eaton (J.R.), Anthony Ciresi (Victoria), Teresa McKenzie (Jimmy), Grace deBurca (Colm), T.J. Glovan, and Alyssa Glovan; Dearest great-grandma (aka GG) of Weiland, River, Lucas, Sophia, Giana, Sal, Dominic, Luciano, Vivienne, Claire, Amelia, Liam, and Rory; Dear sister of Helen Mattix (dec.), Edward Flaherty (dec.), William Flaherty (dec.), Charles Flaherty (dec.), Robert Flaherty (dec.), Rosemary Klotzbach (dec.), Catherine Wetzel (dec.), John Flaherty, and James Flaherty; Dear aunt and great-aunt of many. On behalf of Virginia, the family also wishes to thank Davina Pozniak, who in the past year was a wonderful and loving caregiver for Virginia making her life so much better and enjoyable.

Family suggests memorial contributions in Virginia’s name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the favorite charity of their choice.

Friends may call at the FERFOLIA FUNERAL HOME, 356 W. AURORA RD. (ST. RT. 82) SAGAMORE HILLS FOR VISITATION THURSDAY JANUARY 29th 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00PM. Funeral Friday 9:00 AM at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Virginia’s life 10:00 AM at St. Monica Catholic Church. Interment Crown Hill Cemetery.

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