Virginia Catherine Sprauer

Virginia "Ginny" Sprauer passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025 in Apopka, Florida, at the age of 90.

Virginia was born on November 25, 1934. She was the second of four daughters born to Stephen Ryback and Rose Reseska of Brooklyn, New York. Ginny’s family eventually moved to Long Island where she and her sisters attended Catholic School. She eventually fell in love with her best friend, Rose’s brother, Charlie. They married when she was 18 and he was 20, after only two weeks of engagement, so as to beat his draft deployment for the Korean War. The couple married on April 19, 1953 and very shortly after the wedding, Charlie was deployed for over a year serving in the army.

When he returned, Ginny set out to “fatten him up” and also begin their family. Their first born was Charles Jr (Chuck), then Cheryl, Gary and Gregg. A tragic accident took the life of their only daughter, Cheryl, when she was just six years old, in 1963. Ginny and Charlie’s strength and faith allowed them to overcome this tragedy and conceive another daughter, Caroll, who was born the following year in 1964.

The couple decided to get a fresh start and moved their family south to a rural town, Stuart, Florida in 1966. They resided happily in Martin County for three and a half decades. Ginny was a homemaker and full time devoted mom, serving as scout leader, classroom volunteer, and kids’ sports chauffeur, always putting the needs of her children first. She and Charlie worked hard to provide for their four children, ensuring their childhoods were filled with camping excursions, trips to Disney, boating with friends and regular roadtrips back to Long Island.

Another tragedy took the life of their youngest son, Gregg, in 1996. Again, their faith and commitment to each other and their remaining children and grandchildren sustained them, despite the loss of a second child.

The couple moved to Tavares in 2002, to be close to their youngest child, Caroll, and her two daughters. They resided in Lake County until Charlie’s passing in 2016. Ginny moved to Apopka to live with Caroll and her daughters, Jenna and Alaina in 2017 and resided with her daughter until her death.

In her later years, Ginny enjoyed dining out and visiting with Fern, Jackie and Nancy, her fellow “nonagenarians” (friends aged 90-99) whom she met at exercise class. She also enjoyed spending time with friends spanning several generations, earning her the affectionate title of everyone’s “adopted mom and grandma."

In the kitchen, Ginny was a culinary master, cooking amazing Italian food and passing down recipes preserved in a handwritten book cherished by her daughter for over 40 years.

Ginny’s creativity and talents blessed many through her handmade quilts she gifted and the hundreds and hundreds of boo-boo" bags she sewed for students who got injured over the years at her daughter’s school. They would go to the clinic and ask for one of Grandma Ginny’s “boo-boo bags”. Those can still be found in freezers all over Apopka.

Ginny was happiest when she was spending time with family, enjoying a great meal, a glass of Cabernet and playing family board games.

She was the matriarch of the very close-knit Sprauer Family, never forgetting a birthday, always mailing cards and treats and consistently providing guidance and support. She was known for her love, laughter, and generosity.

Her humor was legendary, and her daughter loved to share hilarious videos of her playful exchanges with Ryder, aka “Naughty McNaughty”, the family’s golden retriever. These videos have quite the FaceBook following! Ginny absolutely loved dogs, and you will see many pictures of her giving them lots of attention. She couldn’t help but spoil them with homemade crockpot dog food and special treats.

Virginia Sprauer is survived by her oldest son, Charles Sprauer, Jr and his wife, Tina. She is also survived by her son, Gary Sprauer and his wife Patricia. She is further survived by her daughter Caroll and her new son-in-law, Steve. Virginia was proud to be a grandmother to seven: Max, Christopher, Brian, Stephen, Katie, Jenna and Alaina. She was also blessed with five great grandchildren: Nola, Shiloh, Lexi, Koa and Aurora.

Ginny’s spirit endures in the hearts she touched, a reminder of the power of love. May she rest in peace, forever missed and deeply loved.

 In lieu of sending flowers, please consider making a donation to Tunnels for Towers, the ASPCA or your local Humane Society