Virginia (Ginny) Heim Estabrook died peacefully at home on March 10, 2020 in Concord, California at the age of 83 after a fierce battle with cancer.

Ginny is survived and missed by her husband, Peter Estabrook of Concord, CA; children, Anne Estabrook (son-in-law Dennis Fink, and granddaughters Madeleine and Allison Fink) of Lafayette, CA and Timothy Estabrook (daughter-in-law Lisa Estabrook (nee Sterling) and granddaughters Emilie, Kate, and Megan Estabrook), of Yarmouth,Maine; brothers Bill Heim of St. Charles, MN and Dave Heim of Minneapolis, MN, many beloved nieces and nephews and friends around the world.

Ginny was born on May 16, 1936 in Winona, MN to Lloyd A. Heim and Marion O. Heim (nee Uhl). She graduated from St. Charles High School in 1954 and the University of Minnesota in 1958 with a degree in nursing.  After stints in Montana and Alaska, she moved to San Francisco and worked as a public health visiting nurse.  It was there she met Pete, a marine engineer who graduated from the California Maritime Academy and they married in 1964 beginning their life of adventure together.

When their children were 2 years old and newborn, Pete and Ginny set sail aboard the 32-foot ketch Kyuquot, sailing down the west coast of Mexico and Central America to Panama.  After 18 months living and working in the canal zone, they continued their voyage through the Caribbean, finally “moving ashore” in Virginia Beach when their daughter started kindergarten.  The family moved often, living in Jacksonville, FL, Galveston, TX, and the village of La Couronne, in Provence, France, before finally settling in to their current home in Concord. Her children remember her as a humorous and loving mother who created a warm home wherever the family landed, and an exemplary role model of a working mother who encouraged them to pursue their goals, taught them empathy, tolerance and how to balance life’s responsibilities with a bit of fun and adventure.

Ginny was a lifelong caretaker, who bestowed her love on anyone who crossed her path. She loved travelling and being outdoors.  She was an active volunteer in her church and community and abroad through numerous trips to the South Pacific and other locations through Global Volunteers and Doctors Without Borders. She was a music lover, avid reader and accomplished writer, documenting her life’s adventures in two books, Minnesota Memories and Underway. She was a great cook, generous hostess, and very popular party guest.

A funeral is scheduled for October 9, 2020 at 11:00 a.m at St. Francis of Assisi Church, at 860 Oak Grove Road, in Concord, CA with a reception to follow at Pete and Ginny’s home in Concord, CA. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ginny’s life. An interment will be held on June 16, 2020 at St.Aloysius Cemetery in Elba, MN.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Hospice East Bay https://www.hospiceeastbay.org/development/donations. The family would like to thank hospice and all the friends and family who contributed to Ginny’s care during her illness.