Helped create Bubble Wrap
SOUTHBURY, Conn. -- Virginia Ida (Labagh) Fielding, 95, of Southbury, died after a brief illness June 15, 2016, with her family by her side.
A lifelong 'Jersey girl' at heart, she was born Nov. 18, 1920, in Hackensack, N.J., the daughter of Ida (Atkins) Labagh and Lewis D. Labagh Jr. She was a descendant of John Bowne, one of the earliest settlers of Long Island, who is remembered for securing religious freedom for the Quaker congregation in Flushing. She was a lifelong member of the Hackensack Congregational Church. There she met her husband of 28 years, Alfred W. Fielding, who predeceased her.
Al Fielding ran a small machine shop, Fielding Machine Co., and worked with a Swiss partner, Marc Chavannes, in the 1950s to develop a laminated plastic wallpaper or insulation. Virginia recalled working with them to perforate the plastic sheeting for their experiments. Although the product failed as insulating wallpaper, it later became the first Bubble Wrap made by Sealed Air Corp., which Al Fielding and Chavannes founded.
Virginia worked for a short time before World War II as a dental assistant in New York City, but retired when they married. She spent most of her adult life as a homemaker and caregiver for others, first for her ailing in-laws, then for her family, then for her own parents.
The family moved to Pines Lake in Wayne, N.J., where she became active in community organizations such as the PTA, the Pines Lake Association and Pines Lake Woman's Club. She was a volunteer for the Chilton Hospital Auxiliary and ran its thrift shop in Riverdale for many years. She was also a Cub Scout leader and a star player in the Pines Lake Bowling Club, taking home many high-game trophies.
In her 80s, she moved from her family home of 40 years to Pomperaug Woods in Southbury to be near her son and his family. The family is very grateful to Pomperaug Woods, and particularly to the staff of its Assisted Living wing and the Health Center, for their friendliness, care and compassion over the years.
She is survived by her son, Howard Fielding, and his wife, Barbara Hampton, of Southbury; grandson Jeffrey Fielding of Seattle; and granddaughters Victoria Fielding of Northfield, Vt., and Alexandra Fielding of Southbury.
Now the Jersey girl is going home, to God and to Hackensack.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Health Center Garden Fund at Pomperaug Woods, 80 Heritage Road, Southbury, CT 06488, or to Chilton Medical Center Auxiliary, 97 West Parkway, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.

Cemetery: Hackensack Cemetery

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Funeral: Church Not Applicable

Services: Burial will be in Hackensack Cemetery, Hackensack, N.J., on June 24 at 12: 30 P.M. At her request there are no plans for a memorial service.