LAKEPORT, Calif. – Virginia (“Jini”) Sills passed away peacefully in Lakeport following a short illness on April 29, 2016.

She and her twin brother, Warren, were the last of eight children born to Ludwig and Thelma Segerlind, who emigrated to Worcester, Massachusetts, from their native Sweden in the early 1900s.

While Ludwig stayed and built a family home, Thelma returned to Sweden for her sister, Ethyl, and the couple’s four children – brothers ThÆrgny (“Carl”) and Henry, and Jini’s elder sisters Helen and Anna- – booked passage for all of them from England to America. The ship’s purser, however, would not let Ethyl sail because of a transitory illness, and the tickets were returned. The tickets were for the maiden voyage of the luxury-liner, Titanic.

After settling in Worcester, Thelma and Ludwig had two sets of twins in the “new country,” starting with Jini’s elder sisters Elsie and Esther. Thelma died shortly after Jini and Warren were born on Nov. 23, 1921, and the eight children either left home or were raised separately.

Jini came to San Francisco at the end of World War II, and lived in Northern California the rest of her life. Following a brief first marriage, Jini married her husband of 45 years, Glen Sills.

After raising their family in Bay Area, she and Glen retired to Kelseyville where Jini was active in many community, church and service organizations. Her associations, recognitions and achievements include the 38th Order of Eastern Star; lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star, Home Endowment Fund; a 47-year membership in the Big Valley Grange; Daughters of the Nile; Christian Women United; the Rebekahs; First Southern Baptist Church of Lakeport; and the Red Hat Society (the “What-evers”).

Jini is preceded in heaven by her husband, Glen, and sons Gregory and Steven, and survived by her son David Barron of Las Vegas, and her son and daughter, Martin and Melinda Sills of Kelseyville.

She is the grandmother of seven: Glenna Farley of Kelseyville; Kyle Sills of San Clemente, Calif.; Kirk Sills of Kelseyville; Kelsey Robinson of Kelseyville; Leslie Barron Jackson and Laura Stringham of Salt Lake City; and John David Barron of Las Vegas.

She is the great-grandmother of 11: Jane, Elisabeth, Charles and Elinore Stringham; Kaylee and Kaine Robinson; Benjamin, David and Thomas Jackson; and Frances and Louise Barron.

Jini’s many friends are invited to a viewing scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at Chapel of the Lakes, 1625 N. High St. in Lakeport, and a service celebrating her life at 11 a.m. Friday, May 6, also at the Chapel of the Lakes.

After the service, all are invited join the family for a luncheon at the Big Valley Grange, 1510 Big Valley Road, Lakeport.

The family encourages contributions to Big Valley Grange 680, Lakeport.

For further information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .