Virginia Duys, 91, of Shelton, Connecticut (formerly of Hollywood, SC and Wilton, CT) passed away peacefully in her home after a brief illness. She is preceded in death by her husband Henry M. Duys Jr "Bimmy", whom she married in 1971; her stepson Noah O. Duys; her sister Cornelia Miller, brother William van den Toorn, and her first husband Robin Nauta.  She is survived by her brother Pieter van den Toorn (Catherine) and sister-in-law Susan van den Toorn; two children from her first marriage: Pieter Nauta (Elaine) of Purcellville, VA and Jacqueline Nauta-DeBlois (Don) of Trumbull;  and two stepchildren: Lizabeth Lewellen (Quinton) of Harrison ID, and Henry M. Duys III (Susan) of Brewster, NY; six grandchildren: Jessica Durie (Alex), Robin Fiftal (Jeremy), Mark Nauta, Melanie Salata, Joe Salata,  Sloane Duys; and her great-granddaughter Kaylen Fiftal.

Virginia was born to Dutch parents in Amsterdam, Netherlands, but grew up alternating between the US and Holland while her father served as the Director of the Holland America Line.  She immigrated to the US and became a US citizen in the 1950s.

Virginia was the guiding light of her family.  A devoted wife and loving mother/stepmother to her blended family of five children; she would always say that being a mom was all she ever wanted to be, and it gave her so much joy. This combined family was her life.  She and Bimmy were active residents of Wilton, CT; owned and ran Stewart Flowers in Wilton Center for 10 years, then retired to SC where they became part of an extraordinary network of close friends who they loved like family.  She was the mom everyone wanted to have and was always full of love and laughter, especially love for her family and those closest to her.  Everyone she knew was better for knowing her, and her light will live on in so many ways.  She will be missed always and forever in our hearts.

A celebration of Virginia's life will be held later when the family plans to inter her along with Bimmy.  The family would like to thank the many professional care givers at Brightview Senior Living of Shelton, Constellation Hospice, and Harmony Home Healthcare for all they did to make Virginia's life so comfortable in her last weeks.  If you would like to honor Virginia, please donate in her honor to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: https://www.stjude.org/donate/