FINALLY! EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE!

“One More Surprise”

Written by Ali Griffith

August 5, 2006

Some of you may know my grandma, Virginia McElroy, through her volunteer work at the Senior Center and her many features in the newspaper over the years. What you may not know, however, is that Virginia turned 80 last Sunday and to her great surprise, found her family and friends assembled for a surprise birthday/family reunion party to celebrate her big day.


Her granddaughters, Ali Griffith and Max Love, of Los Angeles and San Diego respectively, have been planning the event for several months and through numerous phone calls and emails with family members, almost the entire family was able to show up. Virginia has six children, five boys and a girl and all were able to attend; fifteen grandchildren, of which twelve were able to make it-including one granddaughter, an attorney all the way from Dallas, Texas, and one of three great-grandchildren all helped to surprise her. Virginia’s two brothers, Norman and Paul, as well as her sister, Elsie of Carson City were able to make it in time too. Virginia’s party was held at her son, Eric and wife, Lisa McElroy’s big, beautiful home and the event was catered by Fernley locals Gordon & Cary’s Backyard BBQ.


Virginia Finan was born on July 30, 1926, in Rhode Island where her large Navy family lived for several years before moving to San Diego, California. Virginia had two sons, Dennis and John Hussong, before marrying her true love, a sailor named Albert McElroy of San Diego. They had four beautiful children, Debra, David, Eric and Albert Junior. They spent the next few decades between San Diego and Huntington Beach in California as well as in Reno. Virginia and Albert eventually moved to Fernley about fifteen years ago and Virginia has been a staple of the community ever since. Virginia is a well-known face at the Senior Center and helps keep busy by helping out and planning events all year long.


Virginia McElroy is a gem of the Fernley community and the heart of our large, loving family.

Brothers and Sister: Paul, Elsie, Virginia and Norman

Virginia and her children:

left to right , youngest to oldest: Albert Junior, Eric, Dave, Debbie, John and Dennis

Virginia and her grandchildren...

(left to right back row): Carson, Shilo, Ali, Mandy, Blake, Max, Jason, Cody
(left to right front row): Ean, Virginia, Drake and Garrett