Mt. Arlington, Mrs. Virginia K. Rooney, 92, died on January 14, 2012 at her home surrounded by the  gallery of family photos she loved so well.  She was born and raised in Huntington, PA, where as a young woman she worked as a model.   She met her husband, the late Robert J. Rooney, in Mt. Arlington NJ, in the mid 1940’s while working there as a nanny for a visiting New York family.

 Some years later while working in the Quartermaster’s office in  Washington DC she and Robert married.  After a short time in California, where her first child was born, the couple settled in Mt. Arlington, NJ.  She has been a resident of the Borough for 69 years.

She has been very active in her community and received numerous awards and honorariums for her service, none of which were more cherished than her appointment as  “Town Historian” in 1980, a title she has held to her death.  Her collection of borough artifacts and her knowledge of Mt. Arlington’s history will be long remembered and sorely missed.

She served as past presidents of the Mt. Arlington Historical Society, Mt. Arlington Community Club, PTA, Was the Republican County Community Chair from 1968-2000, and worked for the Morris County Archives Committee.

She wrote the “Around Mt. Arlington”  and “Between Us Girls” newspaper columns for more than 43 years and was a contributor to the book Mt. Arlington:  A Pictorial History, the First 100 years.

Rooney will be remembered as a ‘living encyclopedia’ and her colorful recounts of early years in Mt. Arlington will continue to be recalled with laughter from all who heard them.  Her quick wit and ready smile were her trademark, and she could always be depended upon to be positive and easy going. Family and friends will always remember how a casual phone call to Rooney would turn into a 2 hour chat.

 At her 90^th birthday celebration Rooney said, “I’ve had a terrific life.  Every single day I thank God for his blessings that I was given.  Not everything was perfect, but He gave me all of the answers I ever needed.”

She was predeceased by her husband Robert J. of 49 years, in 1992, and by her son John Patrick Rooney in 2010.  She is survived by her son Robert C (and Paulette) Rooney, daughter Philadelphia (Patricia) G. Sparnroft-Rooney, 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Friends may visit at the Davis and Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Succasunna, on Monday from 3-5 and 7-9 pm.  The Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday at 10 am at the Funeral Home.