Virginia �Ginny� M. (Ayles) Paavola of Chelmsford, formerly of Billerica, passed away on December 16, 2010 at the Lahey Hospital in Burlington, MA with her family at her bedside. She was born on August 7, 1924 in Peabody, the daughter of the late Walter and Flora (Wilson) Ayles. She attended Peabody schools and was a graduate of Essex County Agricultural School. During World War II she became pen pals with a quiet, honorable man that soon would become her husband. She married Toivo �Toby� V. Paavola on December 8, 1945 and was married for nearly 61 years at the time of his passing in 2006. Virginia and Toby lived briefly in Dayton, OH and Peabody, MA, before settling in Billerica in 1954, where they resided until moving to Chelmsford in 1995. She was a head cook at Billerica Memorial High School for many years before retiring in 1979. Virginia was a member of the First Congregational Church in Billerica and was a faithful supporter and member of the Aim-Hi group. Virginia�s greatest joy in life was her family. One of her favorite things to do was to "gather" with her loved ones. She made everyone feel special and loved. She always had a hug and a warm smile for anyone she met. Her love was the start of a long line of people who put family and love together to make their lives complete. She was the loving mother of two daughters, Linda E. and her husband Gerald Simmons Jr. of Chelmsford and Brenda J. and her husband Jeffrey Hopkins of Royalston; grandmother of Jason and his wife Jessie (Binkauski) Hopkins of Orange and Jessica (Hopkins) and her husband Christopher Willhite of Royalston; and great-grandmother to her �babies� Matthew, Owen, and Abigail Willhite of Royalston and Brooklyn and Camden Hopkins of Orange. She is survived by one brother, Ernest �Ernie� Ayles of Peabody. Among the many special people in her life are her �adopted� family members Neil Nagle of Peabody and Donald Hopkins of Westford. Also surviving are her many nieces and nephews and their families throughout the United States. Besides her parents and her husband, her brothers Ralph Ayles and Charles �Charlie� Ayles also predeceased Virginia.