Virginia Wright Westphal died peacefully at home on Thursday, January 26,2023, with her loving family at her side. Ginny was born on May 5, 1946 at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, NJ, to John and Isabel Owen Wright. Her family moved to Sea Girt as permanent residents in 1949.

After graduating from St. Catherine’s Grammar School and Manasquan High School, Ginny earned degrees from Marymount College and the University of Hartford. Upon graduation, she secured a teaching position at Pulaski Senior Highschool in New Britain, Connecticut, a job she loved and cherished. However, the lure of family and friends brought her back to Sea Girt in 1971. Shortly after her return to Sea Girt, she met her wonderful, loving and devoted husband, Ernie. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 29, 2023.

In 1980, Ginny and Ernie purchased the Beacon House Bed and Breakfast in Sea Girt. It had been a Westphal Family business since the 1920’s, but was sold to an NY Corporation in 1976, the same year their daughter Lauren was born.  Ginny & Ernie purchased the Beacon House back into the Westphal Family that year and for 19 years Ginny & Ernie managed and operated the B & B together meticulously with love and affection.

Along with running their businesses, Ginny was involved in several meaningful activities in Sea Girt, a town she truly loved.

She was a trustee of the Sea Girt Lighthouse for 18 years, President of the Sea Girt Fire Auxiliary, and served as the Sea Girt Republican Chairwoman for 11 years.

Upon retirement, the Westphal’s spent their winters in Stuart, FL, enjoying life at Mariner Sands.

They were also members of the Spring Lake Golf Club for over 30 years.

Ginny is survived by her loving husband, Ernest Westphal, her daughter Lauren Lake and her husband Jeffrey Lake, and two grandchildren whom she absolutely loved and was extremely proud of, John and Tallie. She also leaves behind her nephew Michael Wright, his wife Larisa, nephew Finn and niece Ava, brother-in-law Robert Westphal, niece Wendy and her husband, Dave Hudson, and their children Dylan and Ireland. Also, her dear cousins, Carol and Phillip Cane, their sons Owen Cane, Chris Cane and his wife Mary and their son John Henry. She is also survived by a group of very close, loyal and amazing friends.

Ginny was predeceased by her brothers John G. Wright and Henry O. Wright.

Family and friends are invited to her viewing at O’Brien’s Funeral Home on Monday January 30, 2023, from 4:00pm – 8:00pm, and a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at St. Mark’s, Sea Girt on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at 9:30am.

A celebration of Ginny’s life will be held in the Spring time at the Spring Lake Golf Club so that all her family and friends can attend when they return from Florida and other warm climates.

Ginny has requested donations be made in her name to the Sea Girt Lighthouse Committee:

Sea Girt Lighthouse Citizens Committee
P.O. Box 83
Sea Girt, NJ 08750