Virginia Louise "Ginger" Gallagher was the aunt of Frank Gallagher and the owner of the Gallagher house, who died during a party Frank attended after she overdosed on cocaine.
History[]
Her death was never revealed to authorities or any of the family as shown when Frank reveals her death to the Gallagher children when a woman from the Office of the Inspector General knocks on their door looking for her. Most of the family had been unaware of her death until then, as Frank had told everyone Ginger was living in a Wisconsin nursing home for 12 years while he collected her Social Security checks. The Gallaghers, with help from Veronica, get a mentally-confused elderly lady out of the old folks' home to pose as Ginger, then return her after the inspector departs. Debbie, even though she participated in the plan, becomes very attached to the fake Ginger after getting to know her and asks if they can keep her, but Fiona tells her they don't have the room or money to support "Ginger" full-time. However, as the inspector announces that she plans to return every six months to check up on the family, the Gallagher siblings make plans to bring "Ginger" back to the house as needed.
Season 2[]
During Can I Have a Mother, Peggy Gallagher mentions Carl told her of Ginger being buried in the yard. Peggy compliments her son scamming the state by pretending to be Ginger while stating she will take over the role.
Season 3[]
During The Sins of My Caretaker, Fiona learns of a city employee needing to dig up the yard. The Gallaghers are forced to get Frank to help in removing Ginger's body from the yard to avoid implication. Fiona also makes it clear to her father that he needs to find her or else face prison time, something he begrudgingly carries out. Frank soon finds Ginger and the family take her to the cemetery at night where they properly bury her.
In Where There's a Will, as Fiona files for guardianship of her siblings, with Veronica's help, she steals a body and uses it to declare Ginger legally dead. She has Lip write up a fake will leaving Fiona the house. Unfortunately, their cousin Patrick filed a fake will of his own which superseded theirs, with "Ginger" leaving him Fiona's house. However, Debbie came up with a plan to accuse Patrick of molesting her, and blackmails him into a 50-year lease with a 500 dollar a month rent payment, exiling Patrick from their lives and allowing Fiona to keep the house.
Notes[]
- Dr. Lloyd later starts referring to Ian by the nickname "Ginger", based on his hair color. This nickname is unrelated to either the real or fake Aunt Ginger.
- She seems to have gotten along with Frank, making her one of his few known relatives he likes.
- It is unknown what terms she was on with her other nephews: Jerry, Clayton, and Wyatt.
- Patrick describes Ginger as cold-hearted, meaning they didn't get along.
- It is unknown what type of relationship she had with her brother Mr. Gallagher and her sister-in-law Peggy Gallagher.
- However, as Peggy didn’t seem fazed by her death, it is likely they didn't get along much.
- In season one, Frank mentioned that he had an Uncle George, it is unknown he is Ginger's brother.