Virginia Weitzel Varela

Virginia “Ginny” Weitzel Varela, of Meridian, Mississippi, beloved mother to three children, passed away in Ogden, Utah, of natural causes on June 1, 2025, at the age of 79 years.

She was born Donna Virginia Weitzel in Los Angeles, California, on October 9, 1945, to Roberta and Edward Weitzel. Her childhood was filled with adventure on the family farm in Pleasant Hill, Oregon, with her siblings Margie and Bill. She loved and thrived in Girl Scouts and 4-H, starting as a young girl and continuing through high school. Her beloved heifer, Bessie, won ribbons at the 4-H Fair.

She attended Linwood College and graduated with a degree in dietetics from Oregon State. She worked as a Dietitian at several medical facilities in Meridan, Mississippi, where she especially enjoyed providing counselling and education to diabetic patients.

A dietitian internship in Detroit, Michigan, led to meeting and later marrying Pablo Y. Varela on December 29, 1969, in Ferndale, Michigan. Together they raised three children in Meridian, Mississippi: Veronica “Chickie” Varela (1971), Victor Varela (1972), and Vaughn “Tommy” Varela (1976). Ginny and Paul were divorced on June 29, 1984.

Until a life-altering car accident, Ginny was very active as a runner, triathlete, hiker, canoe paddler, and doer of many other outdoor things, introducing her kids to those activities as well. Throughout her life, she enjoyed being outside, feeling the sun, working in her yard and on her patio container garden, with one or more of her beloved puppies by her side (Vanna, Venus, Cindy, Shrimpy, Froofy, and Tater). She also enjoyed sewing, crafting, and creating stained glass window displays. In 2021, she moved to Ogden, Utah, and was able to spend a lot more time there with her two sons.

Ginny is survived by her three children, her sister Margery Weitzel Crist, and her brother William Weitzel. She leaves a legacy of life lessons in resilience, perseverance, and independence. Ginny’s family will have a private celebration of her life later this year. In lieu of flowers, Ginny would have appreciated donations sent to St. Joseph’s Indian School, an elementary school for Native American children and their families, providing education “for life — mind, body, heart and spirit.” The school is an apostolate of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart and a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. To make a donation, see the “in lieu of flowers option” on their memorial donation website (https://www.stjo.org/help-native-americans/memorials/) or call 1-855-777-3433.