Violet Musgrave April 14, 1938 - August 7, 2026
While Violet always introduced herself as a little farm girl from Peekskill, New York (go Hen Hud Sailors, Class of 56!), she lived an incredible life so full it spanned multiple continents and five passports. Violet made friends quickly wherever she went, finding a way to contribute to any community and enrich the lives of those around her.
Born on April 14, 1938, Violet grew up just after the Great Depression, which meant she was raised to believe everything had at least three more good uses left in it. Proof of this thriftiness became evident during her family’s efforts to help her downsize from a three-story home in Monroeville, PA, to smaller and smaller apartments in Monroeville, Virginia Beach, and finally Westwood, MA. Grandchildren could always count on Violet to have spare gloves, hats, school supplies and every kind of electronic gadget (whether current technology or not!) on hand. Violet shared her possessions (and opinions) freely with anyone in need.
Violet possessed a tenacity rarely found in just one person. And she would be the first to say her success was rooted in her lifelong friendship with two other remarkable women, Bette and Helen. While attending nursing school at night, Violet raised her children–James, Cheryl and Dara–as a single mom joining forces with these sisters in spirit and situation, sharing cooking, cleaning, childcare, carpooling and all three women caring for their own aging parents. They pulled this off in the 60s when women couldn’t have a bank account or credit card on their own. Instead, they devised a system of individual envelopes with the budgeted amount of cash in each to last until the next payday. Although Violet married Ed Musgrave in 1969 and began a new phase of life, parts of the envelope system survive to this day, so we have learned to check every pocket, purse and file folder for hidden treasure!
Always a caregiver, she became a Licensed Practical Nurse, then a Registered Nurse and eventually served as the Director of Nursing for a skilled facility in Longview, Washington. Violet left nursing for a ten-year adventure living in Brazil and South Korea due to Ed’s work in power generation. While abroad, Violet volunteered for the USO, supported fundraising efforts for orphanages in South Korea, and served as ex-pat activities council member to enrich experiences for others. She and Ed returned to Westinghouse HQ in the Pittsburgh area in 1985, settling in Monroeville, PA, where she lived for the next four decades. Violet resumed caring for others in private duty nursing and volunteered with organizations such as Persons Able to Lend Support helping homebound seniors with errands and appointments. Violet also took great joy in helping to raise four of her eight grandchildren while living in PA.
Violet’s natural curiosity and indomitable spirit took her on adventures in Argentina, Bali, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. In a time before the internet and google maps, some of the adventures were undoubtedly questionable regarding organization and safety. At times, Violet’s travel spontaneous planning style came down to showing up in a new place and figuring out the rest upon arrival. By the grace of God, everyone came home from these adventures with incredible stories and only minor gastrointestinal upset.
In her later years, Violet enjoyed her women's Bible study groups in Monroeville and Virginia Beach. Her greatest hope for all of her family is to be reunited in eternity. While never one to debate politics or religion, she showed her love for Jesus in everyday acts of kindness, generosity and testimony about how the Lord has cared for her in times of challenge and plenty.
Always learning new things, Violet picked up competitive card playing in her 80s. Her latest enjoyment was Canasta, and she was exceptional at never revealing her whole hand so she could later “take the stack.” Her strong desire to continue on with Friday nights playing cards with friends and family became her motivation to take on the biggest challenge of her life.
Violet’s final earthly adventure came in the form of a courageous move from Virginia Beach to Boston, where she received medical care for ovarian cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She had already survived breast cancer, Type 2 diabetes, stage 5 renal failure and a heart arrhythmia requiring a pacemaker. Upon learning of her latest cancer diagnosis on June 9, 2026, and given a prognosis of weeks to months without treatment, she said she would not go down without a fight. After several counseling sessions to ensure she understood the risks, she agreed to chemotherapy but it did not agree with her. On her last best day, she enjoyed a round of Canasta which she won by a landslide. That was Violet: winning right to the end. She passed away peacefully a few days later at Massachusetts General Hospital on August 7, 2026, with family by her side.
The blessing of living to the age of 88 sometimes meant having to part with loved ones too soon. Her faith assures her that she will now be reunited with her husband Edwin William Musgrave, children James Edward Bartnik, Diane Lenore Bartnik and Cheryl Lynn Tomlin, who have passed to the loving arms of our Lord before her.
To her brother Herman Eckert (Marcella Eckert), surviving children James Musgrave (Cindy Musgrave) and Dara Musgrave Yeh (Robert Yeh), and grandchildren Christina Musgrave Swaby, Jennifer Musgrave Britton, Jason Kade Bartnik, Corey Bartnik, Emily Tomlin, Faye Tomlin, Amy Yeh Ameres, David Yeh, and their families, she sends her eternal love.
To all of her many nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren, and friends who will miss her company, she would say, “I’ll see ya when I see ya!”
A private family service will be held at a later date. Remembrances of Violet can be made online to the Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund, or by calling 1-800-525-4669.