ALBANY — Virginia Sablon Heins — beloved daughter, sister, aunt, great aunt, great-great aunt, niece, cousin, and friend — died on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019 at Teresian House in Albany.

Born in 1921 to the late Ann Sablon Heins and William F. Heins in Albany, she grew up in Glens Falls, where she graduated from high school and worked as a legal secretary. In the 1950s, she moved to Kingston, New York and then to Woodstock, New York to work as an executive secretary for IBM, a position she held for over 35 years.

“Virginia was an accomplished artist who loved drawing and painting landscapes, still lifes, and animals,” her family wrote in a tribute. “Many stray cats — including Lady Jane, Tiny Tim, Tigger, Sebastian, and Abigail — found unconditional love and a forever home with Aunt Jeannie.

“After retiring, Virginia delivered meals on wheels, defying snow, ice, rain, and mud on unpaved mountain roads and long driveways to reach those who depended on her.

“Cherished for her easygoing strength, she found humor everywhere. She delighted us with her passion for folk-dancing, gardening, walking, making new friends, and volunteering as secretary of the Woodstock Community Senior Center. She loved living and shared her generous light with many.

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Virginia Sablon Heins was preceded in death by her mother and father, Ann Sablon Heins and William F. Heins; by her brother, Norman Heins; by her sister, Ann H. Balk; by her brother-in-law, Walter Balk; and by many family and friends.

A celebration of her life will be held at Applebee Funeral Home at 403 Kenwood Avenue in Delmar on Thursday, June 13, at 3:30 p.m. RSVPs welcome at or 206-380-9544. 

A graveside burial will be held on Friday, June 14, at 2 p.m. at The Woodstock Cemetery in Woodstock, New York.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of the United States (humanesociety.org) or The World Wildlife Fund (worldwildlife.org).