Virginia Marie Cardarella

MADISON-Virginia “Ginny” Cardarella, age 79, passed away at home on St. Nicholas Day, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. Ginny, the daughter of Margaret and Lyle Scott was born on May 11, 1933 in Bloomington. Ginny was a very caring, loving, and giving person. Ginny’s greatest joy was spending time with her children, and her grandchildren, Monica (Aaron) Miles, Emily (Keaton) Kuykendall, Jacob and Danica Dwyer and Paul, Nick, Travis and Kashten Cardarella. She also enjoyed her great-grandchildren, Ella & Asa Miles, Sofia & Jack Cardarella, and baby Drake Kuykendall. While painting her world in purple’s and lavender, she enjoyed her flower gardens, travel, crossword puzzles, and of course as you most all know…. always celebrating a relative’s or friend’s special occasion with a gift or card in hand. Ginny’s compassion for others was reflected through her career at RFDF Inc. As a RFDF Director she managed community based residential care of adults with disabilities throughout Madison and Dane County, retiring in 1996. Ginny, was also a lifelong advocate for the awareness and support of those diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome, (PWS). As part of Ginny’s advocacy and support, residential homes where established for PWS in Southern Wisconsin. Today, Prader-Willi Homes of Oconomowoc, LLC (PWHO) has established ten homes for PWS. Echoing the commitment for assisting people with PWS, PWHO now serves more residents than any other treatment home in the world. Ginny is survived by her daughter, Christy (Tom) Dwyer of McFarland; and her sons, Steven (Joan) Cardarella of Madison, Jeff Cardarella of Madison, Randy (Carrie) Cardarella of Windsor, and Jon Cardarella of Watertown and her half brother Byron Scott. Ginny will be missed by her sister-in-law Cathy Scott and best friend, Phyllis Dowd. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Truman, Guy, Neil, Lloyd, and Reggie Scott; her nephew, Ryan Scott; granddaughter, Cassandra; and beloved son, Nick. Memorial services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Prader-Willi Homes of Oconomowoc LLC. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. “Yes St. Nicholas there is a Virginia” In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Prader-Willi Homes of Oconomowoc LLC. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. Memorial services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.