Virginia Braun Hand

Virginia "Ginger" Braun Hand (formerly Buchheister), 81, of Beltsville, Maryland, transitioned peacefully on February 19, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. Born on April 5, 1943, in New Jersey to Fred Joseph Braun and Esther Claire Braun (Leypoldt), Ginger was a woman of deep Catholic faith, a devoted mother, a doting grandmother, and a passionate real estate professional.

Ginger moved to Milwaukee as a young girl and later to Roland Park, Baltimore, where she graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory School in 1961. She pursued higher education at the University of Maryland, College Park. She put her education on hold to become an Army wife and mother but later earned her Associate’s Degree from Panama Canal College in 1988.

While attending UMCP, Ginger met James (Jim or Schmoo) Joseph Buchheister Jr., and they married in 1965. As a devoted Army wife, she embraced a life of adventure, moving with Jim to Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Germany, and Maryland. Ginger was an accomplished homemaker with extraordinary seamstress skills, a green thumb for gardening, and an impressive ability to can anything her garden produced.

Following her divorce, Ginger was determined to build an independent career, fast-tracking a paralegal degree before discovering her passion for real estate. She launched her successful career with Shannon & Luchs in 1986 and later continued with Weichert and then Long & Foster, earning multiple President's Club awards and recognition as a top producer.

In 1986, she remarried and relocated to the Republic of Panama as a Foreign Service spouse, bringing her three children along for an unforgettable adventure. There, she put her real estate career on hold to embrace new experiences, becoming scuba certified and fostering a love for travel. It was in Panama that she developed an enduring affection for Amazon parrots, bringing home two cherished companions, Okra and Sheena, who remained with her for over 30 years.

Returning to Beltsville in 1990, Ginger reignited her real estate career, achieving remarkable success until her retirement. Even now, more than fifteen years after her retirement, one can find her recipe cards in kitchens throughout Beltsville. Her happy place was her beloved beach home in Topsail Island, NC, where she built lifelong friendships and treasured every visit until she could no longer manage the drive.

In 2008, Ginger met the love of her life, Al Lipka, with whom she shared two blissful years before his untimely passing in 2010. Her steadfast Catholic faith provided comfort and strength throughout her life. She was a faithful member of Saint Joseph's Church in Beltsville, serving as a lector and on the Bereavement Committee. Ginger had a lovely voice and was a member of many Church choirs. She was also an active member of the Institute of Catholic Culture, immersing herself in deep theological studies, as well as a dedicated participant in the Beltsville Lions Club. Her favorite nights out were at Sierra's for Margaritas and at Knights of Columbus for Taco Tuesday.

Ginger found joy in both fitness and fine wine, becoming a familiar face in her neighborhood thanks to her daily walks through the community and park. She loved dogs, and had several in her life, and always had a pocketful of biscuits to share with the neighborhood pups she encountered on her walks. She was an avid collector of beautiful things, be it beach glass, sharks teeth, exquisite Christmas ornaments, nativities, shells, animal statuettes and more. She was also known as "The Orchid Whisperer" and took great pleasure in her thriving collection of orchids. Above all, she was a loving mother and adoring "Baubau" to her five grandchildren, cherishing every moment spent with them.

She is survived by her beloved children, Nancy Buchheister Corazzi, Lauren Buchheister Sibila (Troy), and James Joseph Buchheister III; her treasured grandchildren, Vincent James Corazzi, Jenna Claire Corazzi, Amy Elizabeth Corazzi, Daniel Nello Corazzi, and Aiden Michael Sibila. She was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Esther Braun, and her former husband, James Joseph Buchheister Jr. She is also survived by her sister, Kathleen Braun Dollenberg (Douglas); seven nieces and nephews; and many loving in-laws, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.

A funeral Mass will be held at Saint Joseph's Church in Beltsville on Friday, March 7, 2025, with visitation Thursday, March 6 from 4-7 pm at Borgwardts Funeral Home. A private interment will be held at a later date at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, where she will rest with her beloved parents. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ginger’s memory to Bethlehem Monastery of Poor Clares, a religious order dear to her heart.