Veronika “Lindy” Farnham

Hadley—Veronika “Lindy” Farnham, 79, of Hadley, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2013, after a brief illness. She was born in Kammern, Austria, on September 19, 1933, the eldest daughter of Joseph and Vera Lindbichler, and attended schools there. Lindy had many vivid childhood memories of the aftermath of World War II in Austria that she shared with her family, the most poignant being her witnessing long lines of refugees walking solemnly through her small farming village as they were fleeing from the East. She came to the United States in 1955 and was later made a citizen at a Law Day ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa. Living with her family in Florida, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Iowa, she finally settled in Hadley in 1964. She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Northampton. Lindy was one of the originators of the Hadley Cub Scouts and was also a den mother. Her gardening passion was flowers, especially zinnias. She was a skilled seamstress and did alterations out of her home for many years as well as sewing and repairs for the VA Canteen Services for the veterans living there. Being a homemaker, she had many part-time jobs, but her most fulfilling position was working as a nursing assistant at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital, dispensing TLC and patient care.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, David G. Farnham, and their three sons: David F. Farnham and wife Jacqueline Waldman-Corbat and daughter Olga of Amherst; Steven Farnham and wife Tracy and children Jack and Grace of Belchertown; and Michael Farnham and wife Sally and children Caleb and Mary Kate of Hadley. She is also survived by her sister Helga Nicolussi and her husband Mario of Lauterach, Austria; her former sister-in-law Karla Puchwein of Graz, Austria; her brother Willie Puchwein and his partner Getty of Kammern, Austria; and many nieces and nephews.

Her wishes were to be cremated, and the interment will be in the Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst at the convenience of the family. There will be no wake or calling hours. Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst will handle the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PeoplesBank for the benefit of Hopkins Academy Boys and Girls Soccer, a program in which her boys participated for many years. PeoplesBank c/o Veronika Farnham, 5 South Maple Street, Hadley, MA 01035.

Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.