Virginia Nell Zimmerman Obituary (1931

Virginia Nell Zimmerman, ne Blessing, passed away on July 29, 2022, after gracing us with a long and fabulous 90 years. She was born to William L. Blessing and Nell Kate Carey, in Colfax, Washington, on October 19, 1931, but it was Yakima she called home. Virginia graduated from Yakima High School in 1949, and later went on to work for Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone and West Coast Airlines, followed by 30 years as a career guidance counselor with the Washington State Department of Employment Security. She married Harvey W. Cottle in 1950, and the two shared three children, Gail, Alan, and Mark. She married Joseph D. Zimmerman in 1977, to whom she remained married until his death in 2016. Virginia enjoyed a party with friends and family more than most, particularly if it came with a good gin martini, and anytime she had a glass in hand, a biting and hilarious quip wasnt far behind. She also loved to host her friends and family for any and every reason she could find and enjoyed cooking and baking for such occasions. She even taught her granddaughters a few favorite recipes throughout the years. Virginia loved theater, music, and visual art, and consumed as much of it as she possibly could. She also loved to travel, which took her everywhere from the bright lights of Broadway, to her ancestral home of Ireland, a favorite trip she was able to take with her husband, Joe. She was a lifelong avid reader and frequent movie-goer, so much so that some of her final days were spent picking apart the differences between a book and its new movie adaptation. Virginia was of strong Christian faith, and in her later years attended St. Michaels and St. Timothys Episcopal Churches in Yakima, Washington. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, William L. Blessing and Nell Kate Carey, her brother, William L. Blessing Jr., her husband, Joseph D. Zimmerman, her cousin, Stanton Smart, and her nephew, Stanton Blessing. Virginia is survived by her children, Gail Cottle, her husband Ren Brown, Alan Cottle, his wife Monica, and their daughters Alex and Mackenzie (Phil Ward), Mark Cottle, his wife Lauri, and their daughters Morgan and Alison (Hugo Santalucia), and great-grandson, Jack. She is also survived by her niece, Kelly Swoboda, her husband Mike. Her legacy and values will live on through her kin, who share her zest for life and love of family. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in Virginias name can be made to The Yakima Symphony Orchestra, The Yakima Humane Society, or a charity of your choice, and sent in care of Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA 98936). Virginias family would like to offer a special thank you to the staff and caregivers of Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and Cottage in the Meadow, for their care and kindness during Virginias nal days. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.