Obituary of Virginia J. "Jinny" Stefanko

Virginia J. “Jinny” Stefanko, 84, formerly of East Windsor, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at the Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown, PA.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Jinny was raised in Western Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Elsworth High School.   Following graduation, she attended the California University of Pennsylvania and went on to Rutgers University where she received her Master’s Degree in Education.  Jinny taught in the East Windsor School District for 32 years as a 5^th and 6^th grade Math Teacher at the Melvin H. Krebs School where she was inducted into their school Hall of Fame.  Jinny’s love and devotion to teaching carried over for years as she spent several years tutoring countless students in Math after school and during the summer. 

Jinny was the consummate Pop Warner Mom, who would always be at the games and would always offer the kids rides home from practices.  Her home was always open to all of her children’s friends, especially during the holidays when they would come for their second course of both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and spend the night watching football together.  Jinny was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins fan, through and through.  Although her favorite NFL player is Patrick Maholmes, she never missed watching college football, especially when the West Virginia Mountaineers were playing.  Known for her love of all animals, Jinny especially loved her German shepherd, Paisley and her black cat, Baby.

Predeceased by her parents, Gordon and Virginia (Harris) Downs; she is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law, William M. and Christine Stefanko of Hamilton Square and George P. Stefanko of Ewing; her sister, Karen Downs of Pittsburgh; her grandchildren, Robert and his wife, Bruna Mulcare, of Elizabeth, Colin and his fiancée, Carly Masula, of Norwood, and Grace Mulcare of Hamilton Square; her niece, Kelly Drexler of Idaho; and her beloved dog, Paisley and black cat, Baby.

Funeral services will begin on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel, 136 Morrison Avenue, Hightstown, NJ.    

Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hightstown, NJ.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jinny’s memory to APAW by visiting https://www.apawpets.org/ or Marty’s Place by visiting https://martysplace.org/