Mariam M. (Johnson/Zahradnik) Dayton

                  5/30/1925 – 10/21/2023

A beautiful soul has departed us. Miriam Dayton, affectionately known as Mimi to many, passed away at home on the morning of October 21, 2023. Born on May 30, 1925, in Fitchburg, MA to Olive and C. Phillip Johnson. Miriam was later joined by one younger sister, Nancy. Miriam grew up in Fitchburg and graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1943.

Miriam attended North Park College, UCLA, University of Zurich, and David Lipscomb where she obtained her bachelor’s degree. Miriam was well traveled, having spent time in Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, France, Iran, Czechoslovakia, England, Mexico, and Hong Kong.

Miriam and her first husband John (Zahradnik) moved to Amherst in 1954 and later to Harkness Road in Pelham. Miriam raised steers, chickens, horses and her 6 “perfect” children on her beloved farm in Pelham. Miriam and John were married from 1950-1973. 

Miriam married James Dayton in 1978. She and James shared their home on the other end of Harkness Road, in the historic “Lodestone” house. Miriam remained in this home after James passing. In 2013 Miriam moved in with her oldest son and his family, also on Harkness Road.

Miriam was best known for her graciousness, generosity, gregarious conversation, and hospitality. Miriam had a deep faith and lived it out faithfully. Miriam was gifted in so many ways, whether it was cooking, sewing, gardening, art. Miriam embraced each new day. Miriam was always active in the community, serving the Pelham PTA for 12 years, Mt.Toby Friends Meeting, Amherst Women’s Club, Beacon Hill Friends’ House and later with the Amherst Town Meeting. Miriam helped immigrant families settling in the Valley and worked on various church functions. Miriam had groups of people for dinner parties on a regular basis, Miriam had a way of making people feel very welcomed and uniquely appreciated.

Miriam is preceded in death by her husband(s) John Zahradnik and James Dayton, her parents, Olive and Phil Johnson, her sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Bill Maravell, son, Eric Zahradnik, and daughter, Emily Cates.

Miriam is survived by her son and their spouses, Phillip (Lorena) Zahradnik, Joseph (Nancy) Zahradnik, Paul Zahradnik, Benjamin Zahradnik, her grandchildren, Charlotte Haynes, Abraham Cates, Michael Zahradnik, Sarah Evans, Jeffrey Zahradnik, Amelia Zahradnik, Cody Zahradnik, Elizabeth Zahradnik, James Zahradnik and Zachary Zahradnik. Miriam is survived by 11 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

There will be a Memorial Service for Miriam at First Baptist Church, 434 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 2:00pm. The family invites you to come and celebrate Miriam’s life.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

                                 Ruby Elizabeth Hall Marcotte

Northampton, MA – Ruby Marcotte, 90, died on October 21, 2023 in Northampton, MA where she had resided since 2019 having previously lived in Amherst, MA since 1959.  She was born on November 22, 1932 in Bratt, Florida to the late Eugene Hall and Annie Kate Godwin Hall, and was raised in Atmore, Alabama. Ruby completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama, and she earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1967. Ruby was employed as a reading teacher in the South Hadley, MA Public Schools.  After her retirement, Ruby volunteered in the ESL program at the First Baptist Church of Amherst.

Ruby is survived by her husband of 68 years, Alfred D. Marcotte and their three children, David Marcotte and his wife Kimberly of Tucson, AZ, Ann Marcotte of Providence, RI, and Daniel Marcotte of Long Beach, CA. She had four grandchildren and a great grandchild.

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church, 434 N. Pleasant St, Amherst, Ma. on Monday, October 30, 2023 at 11am. A Calling Hour will precede the Funeral Service from 10am to 11am. Burial will follow the Funeral Service at the North Amherst Cemetery, Amherst, Ma.

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com

                                 Ruby Elizabeth Hall Marcotte

Northampton, MA – Ruby Marcotte, 90, died on October 21, 2023 in Northampton, MA where she had resided since 2019 having previously lived in Amherst, MA since 1959.  She was born on November 22, 1932 in Bratt, Florida to the late Eugene Hall and Annie Kate Godwin Hall, and was raised in Atmore, Alabama. Ruby completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama, and she earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1967. Ruby was employed as a reading teacher in the South Hadley, MA Public Schools.  After her retirement, Ruby volunteered in the ESL program at the First Baptist Church of Amherst.

Ruby is survived by her husband of 68 years, Alfred D. Marcotte and their three children, David Marcotte and his wife Kimberly of Tucson, AZ, Ann Marcotte of Providence, RI, and Daniel Marcotte of Long Beach, CA. She had four grandchildren and a great grandchild.

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church, 434 N. Pleasant St, Amherst, Ma. on Monday, October 30, 2023 at 11am. A Calling Hour will precede the Funeral Service from 10am to 11am. Burial will follow the Funeral Service at the North Amherst Cemetery, Amherst, Ma.

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com

Bonita May Wroblewski (Cunningham) of Hatfield, passed away on Thursday, October 12th at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, surrounded by family after a long illness.

Born in 1947 at Cooley-Dickinson Hospital, she was raised in Amherst, graduated from Amherst Schools, and immediately began building her family.   A lifelong member of Wesleyan Methodist Church, she taught Sunday School, served on the Education Committee and became the Chairman of the Missions Committee.  Her faith was very important to her.

She resided in Hatfield, where she and Ed hosted notoriously delicious pig roasts, cookouts and hayrides over the years for family, friends, and the church.  Bonnie deeply enjoyed having parties and celebrations at her home, and she took great joy in decorating for and celebrating every holiday.  She loved her cats, weeks spent on Cape Cod, and gardening.  She loved flowers of all types, and had many flowering gardens and trees.  She loved watching Red Sox and Patriots games, and enjoyed researching her family’s heritage and genealogy.

She is survived by her loving husband Edward Wroblewski Jr, her children;  Lance Lucas and his wife Kim of Southampton, Chris Lucas and his fiancé Melissa Volpe of Westfield, Adam Descheneaux of South Deerfield, and her stepchildren;  Edward Wroblewski III and his wife Kelly of Maryland, and Michelle Marble and her husband David of Georgia, and many wonderful grandchildren.  

Funeral service will be Tuesday, October 24, at 11:00AM at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Hadley. Burial will follow in North Amherst Cemetery. A hour of visitation will precede the service from 10 – 11 AM.

In leiu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, 98 N. Maple St. Hadley, MA 01035 in her memory.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

                                LOUISE ANN HOPKINS

Our Mom, Louise Ann Hopkins (November 19, 1936 – September 16, 2023) was born in and
spent her early years in Oswego, NY. She loved her parents, Dorothy Anita and Arthur Paschke
and her two siblings, Fritzi and Paul, and enjoyed being close to her Uncle Clarence and Aunt
“Toots”, with whom they shared family dinners and trips to Lake Ontario. Upon graduation from
high school, Ann attended Wagner College and then completed graduate work in Philadelphia at
the University of Pennsylvania. She studied English literature and continued to develop her love
of music. This included voice training for her gorgeous voice which she offered to the world
throughout her life, participating in various choral societies and church groups, not to mention
Christmas caroling and singing to her two grandsons.

She married Larry Hopkins in 1962 (div. 1982) and began the grand adventure of traveling the
world. Ann lived in Australia, India and Hong Kong and brought home a love of different foods
and an appreciation of culture. She gave birth to three daughters, two of whom survive her. Her
wide and varied interests continued to expand throughout her life and she shared these with the
people she loved in so many ways.

Ann was always working with her hands – knitting, tatting, crocheting. She owned a yarn shop
for a period of time and taught others how to stitch and knit and create. She knitted sweaters for
her children and the children of their friends. She was known as “Grammie Hopkins” to so many.
She also knitted hats and baby blankets for many charitable organizations.

Ann loved words and writing. She taught both of her kids to love to read and to think critically.
She was a member of many book groups throughout her life and enjoyed discussing books and
current events. She also taught more formally at Jonathan Edwards Academy and through
tutoring. Ann worked as an administrator in four of the Five Colleges, retiring from UMass
Amherst. She continued her interest in education and ideas through her work with a local map
company.

Ann was a committed Christian and Child of the Living God. Her faith was an anchor of her life.
She loved her church community and was an active, giving, and loving member.

Ann is survived by us, her daughters, Kimberley Hickie of Hadley, MA and Kristen Rushin of
Boone, NC and by her beloved son-in-law Andrew Rushin and her greatest gifts, her grandsons,
Timothy and Micah Rushin. Our Mom died on September 16 after a fairly lengthy decline due to
frontotemporal dementia. She loved words and music and these were gradually taken from her –
first her ability to speak and sing and then to read and write. Our Mom’s amazing spirit
continued to shine through these last years. She was kind and loving to everyone she came into
contact with and we were blessed that she knew who we were until the end. Our Mom
supported us and loved us unconditionally. She encouraged us to be ourselves always. She
taught us how to love, and be strong, and persevere even when we were hurt or afraid. We are
so very blessed to have had our Mom for so many years. She was and is loved beyond
measure.

That is her legacy and what we carry with us. She taught us to love and because of her, we
knew that we were loved. We never doubted that and we think what she would want is that all of
you reading this, know that too. If you feel inspired to do something in her memory, please look
around you and see that person who needs your kindness today. Be kind, love each other, and
remember our Mom.

A memorial service will be held at Douglass Funeral Service on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 10am. 

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

SHUTESBURY, MA : John R. Heath, 65, of Shutesbury, MA passed away on September 30, 2023 unexpectedly of heart complications. John was born in Northampton, MA on February 24, 1958, son of Weymouth “Bud” Heath and Joy Heath. John has resided in Shutesbury, MA at Lake Wyola with his faithful dog “Buster” for many years. He was predeceased by his brother Les Heath and sister, Carol Heath O’Brien. He leaves behind his brother Richard Heath of Amherst, sister, Donna Heath Smith of Southwick, nephews Nick and Jeremy Smith, Les Heath, Jr., and other nephews, niece and cousins.

John loved his dog “Buster” and took him everywhere. He met a lot of people that became good friends at the lake by having to track “Buster” down. He enjoyed living at the lake very much. In John’s earlier days, he attended the Amherst school system (most of the time!) After graduation, he worked for a trucking company and drove on many cross country trips. While living at the lake he became a “carpenter / landscaper / maintenance person” for many of the people there. He enjoyed the serenity living and watching the wild life all around him.

There are no services at this time.

MEMORIAL GUESTBOOK AT www.douglassfuneral.com

SHUTESBURY, MA : John R. Heath, 65, of Shutesbury, MA passed away on September 30, 2023 unexpectedly of heart complications. John was born in Northampton, MA on February 24, 1958, son of Weymouth “Bud” Heath and Joy Heath. John has resided in Shutesbury, MA at Lake Wyola with his faithful dog “Buster” for many years. He was predeceased by his brother Les Heath and sister, Carol Heath O’Brien. He leaves behind his brother Richard Heath of Amherst, sister, Donna Heath Smith of Southwick, nephews Nick and Jeremy Smith, Les Heath, Jr., and other nephews, niece and cousins.

John loved his dog “Buster” and took him everywhere. He met a lot of people that became good friends at the lake by having to track “Buster” down. He enjoyed living at the lake very much. In John’s earlier days, he attended the Amherst school system (most of the time!) After graduation, he worked for a trucking company and drove on many cross country trips. While living at the lake he became a “carpenter / landscaper / maintenance person” for many of the people there. He enjoyed the serenity living and watching the wild life all around him.

There are no services at this time.

MEMORIAL GUESTBOOK AT www.douglassfuneral.com

                               LOUISE ANN HOPKINS

Our Mom, Louise Ann Hopkins (November 19, 1936 – September 16, 2023) was born in and
spent her early years in Oswego, NY. She loved her parents, Dorothy Anita and Arthur Paschke
and her two siblings, Fritzi and Paul, and enjoyed being close to her Uncle Clarence and Aunt
“Toots”, with whom they shared family dinners and trips to Lake Ontario. Upon graduation from
high school, Ann attended Wagner College and then completed graduate work in Philadelphia at
the University of Pennsylvania. She studied English literature and continued to develop her love
of music. This included voice training for her gorgeous voice which she offered to the world
throughout her life, participating in various choral societies and church groups, not to mention
Christmas caroling and singing to her two grandsons.

She married Larry Hopkins in 1962 (div. 1982) and began the grand adventure of traveling the
world. Ann lived in Australia, India and Hong Kong and brought home a love of different foods
and an appreciation of culture. She gave birth to three daughters, two of whom survive her. Her
wide and varied interests continued to expand throughout her life and she shared these with the
people she loved in so many ways.

Ann was always working with her hands – knitting, tatting, crocheting. She owned a yarn shop
for a period of time and taught others how to stitch and knit and create. She knitted sweaters for
her children and the children of their friends. She was known as “Grammie Hopkins” to so many.
She also knitted hats and baby blankets for many charitable organizations.

Ann loved words and writing. She taught both of her kids to love to read and to think critically.
She was a member of many book groups throughout her life and enjoyed discussing books and
current events. She also taught more formally at Jonathan Edwards Academy and through
tutoring. Ann worked as an administrator in four of the Five Colleges, retiring from UMass
Amherst. She continued her interest in education and ideas through her work with a local map
company.

Ann was a committed Christian and Child of the Living God. Her faith was an anchor of her life.
She loved her church community and was an active, giving, and loving member.

Ann is survived by us, her daughters, Kimberley Hickie of Hadley, MA and Kristen Rushin of
Boone, NC and by her beloved son-in-law Andrew Rushin and her greatest gifts, her grandsons,
Timothy and Micah Rushin. Our Mom died on September 16 after a fairly lengthy decline due to
frontotemporal dementia. She loved words and music and these were gradually taken from her –
first her ability to speak and sing and then to read and write. Our Mom’s amazing spirit
continued to shine through these last years. She was kind and loving to everyone she came into
contact with and we were blessed that she knew who we were until the end. Our Mom
supported us and loved us unconditionally. She encouraged us to be ourselves always. She
taught us how to love, and be strong, and persevere even when we were hurt or afraid. We are
so very blessed to have had our Mom for so many years. She was and is loved beyond
measure.

That is her legacy and what we carry with us. She taught us to love and because of her, we
knew that we were loved. We never doubted that and we think what she would want is that all of
you reading this, know that too. If you feel inspired to do something in her memory, please look
around you and see that person who needs your kindness today. Be kind, love each other, and
remember our Mom.

A Funeral Service will be held at Douglass Funeral Service on October 14, 2023, at 10am. 

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

                            Jacobus (Jaap) Van Heerden

                       June 15, 1943-September 18, 2023

Jacobus (Jaap) Van Heerden, 80, of Amherst passed away on September 18, 2023, after a period of declining health.

Jaap was born on June 15, 1943 in Haarlem, The Netherlands, son of the late Peter and Aaltje (Jansen) van Heerden.     He leaves his wife of 48 years, Regina Martel, cousins in The Netherlands, as well as a large circle of friends.       

He received a Master’s degree in geology from the University of Amsterdam before coming to the University of Massachusetts in 1969. Jaap was employed for more than 30 years as an AV Media Technician at the UMass Campus Center, retiring in 2003.

He enjoyed rock and ice climbing in the White Mountains and the French Alps. He was an inveterate traveler and photographer, visiting Mesoamerican ruins in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico among other destinations. When he began birding, he joined the Hampshire Bird Club, where he volunteered for many years to provide AV support for the monthly club speakers and served on the Board.

Classical music was a lifelong passion. He frequently traveled to New York, Boston, and abroad to hear and meet with his favorite European musicians.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the New York Philharmonic   https://give.nyphil.org/donate?utm_source=web&utm_medium=support_lp

or Hampshire Bird Club, Inc. Post Office Box 3637 Amherst, MA 01004-3637.

Memorial Guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com