As I write this I’m trying to think of one special time that sticks in my mind the most.  There were so many.  My mother was an avid gardener and a judge for the American Iris Society.  Her show gardens were visited by people from all over New England. She grew the most beautiful iris of all species, sizes and colors. She introduced so many new seedlings that to this day are still available.  In spring and early summer our yard was always so colorful with hundreds of vibrant flowers growing in well manicured flower beds. 

My sister Deb graduated from Northfield Mt. Hermon, (cum laude), and the University of Washington, with Batchelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration.
She had more than 10 years experience managing engineering projects at the King County Department of Public Works in Washington, including a six year $150 million capital improvement program for disposal of asbestos, medical wastes and contaminated soils. 

She  was President of SWANA, Evergreen Chapter, and provided engineering services through her company, Chrystal Engineering, LLC. She was a Licensed Professional Engineer in four states, WA, AK, ID, and OR, and had cold weather certification for Alaska. Alcoa and Kaiser Aluminum were among her clients. She testified as an expert witness for several law firms.

She was born in Ware on Nov. 29, 1931, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Murphy) O'Neil. She was a graduate of Greenfield High School, Class of 1949. She had been a resident of Montague Center most of her life.

Claire was a kitchen worker for the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for many years, retiring in 1997.

I lost my mother a year ago this month: Marjorie Ainsburg, who taught her children to judge no one, and so ultimately she taught us GRACE.  

--Mary Ann Donze

Melba Freed Wallack, 92, of Center for Extended Care, 150 University Drive and formerly of San Diego, passed away peacefully on March 3, after a long, enriched and well-lived life.

She was born in Chicago, Ill., on April 22, 1916 to Irving and Bessie (Alexandrovich) Freed, newly arrived Jewish immigrants from Lithuanian, the "old country," along with the waves of millions who came to the Americas in search of a better life. Melba was educated in the Chicago public schools and graduated from Calumet High School in 1933 with high honors. Her love of music began at an early age when she was inspired by a class trip to hear the Chicago Symphony. She began playing the violin at the age of 6 and continued for the next 70 years in orchestras and various ensembles, showing a passion and natural talent. She had a lifelong love of music, theatre and the arts, and was always interested in the lives of great people.

Growing up, I didn’t think my mom was much of a progressive women’s libber.She was a stay at home mother of 4, and excelled at all the traditional tasks: cooking, baking, sewing, needlework. But she was 29 when she got married, the last of 2 groups of friends.She was highly organized, and volunteered everywhere, church, school and community.At some point, I did realize that she had worked in a bank from the moment she finished high school til she married.Her father had died in 1930 at the start of the depression when she was but 8 years old, so she had to help support the family at the age of 17.She had a supreme work ethic and sense of responsibility.The things she passed on she did by doing, not by preaching.

It's late. We had just finished sorting through Mom's things to prepare her home of over fifty years for sale. After Mom went in the nursing home it became evident she wouldnt't be able to return home. An old black and white catches my eye, stuck in admidst recipe clippings and saved cards that fill the shoebox I brought home from my parent's house. In the picture mom is smiling broadly, holding my sister Alice as an infant. Alice must be only 4 or 5 months old, no hair and squinting in the sun. My mom is wearing a crisp shirt dress with a white collar and sleeves. Her hair is up in the style of the time, rat tail. Next to her is my father, trim and playing with Alice, leaning in to her and my mother. It's summer, at my grandmother's farm in Hatfield. The picture says so much. It's as if my mother is looking out to the rest of her life stretching out before her.