Wendy Butler Walsh, 80, of Agawam, MA, recently of Northampton, and formerly of Madison, CT, peacefully passed away on February 22, 2025, surrounded by family. Wendy was born at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton on September 22, 1944, daughter of the late John Parker and Alice Remington (Remi) Butler.

Wendy graduated from Northampton School for Girls in 1962 and then attended the University of Massachusetts, where she received a Bachelors in English. She continued her education at Southern Connecticut State University, receiving a Masters in Education.

Wendy was a paraprofessional at Daniel Hand High School in Madison for many years. She was loved by her students not only for her excellent tutoring skills, but for her kindness, patience, and constant support, particularly in the areas of English and Math. During summers and after retiring from Daniel Hand, Wendy could often be found tutoring students privately at her dining room table.

As a girl Wendy spent summers at the family beach house on Long Island Sound in Madison. She loved the ocean and developed her life-long love of swimming there. She could outlast anybody swimming long distances. In the mid-1970s Wendy began her 40-year residence on the Shoreline. She played tennis in multiple competitive groups, both singles and doubles. She was only 5 foot 2, but she had a heck of a serve! Her love of poetry was legendary. No book in her library was more worn and tattered than a collection of Emily Dickinson poems. She had eclectic taste in music, from James Taylor to Aaron Copland. Wendy also spent time gardening and doing yoga. She was bright, loving, thoughtful, empathic, quirky, original, hilariously funny, and impossible not to adore.

Wendy returned to Northampton about 10 years ago, where she could often be found with a tennis racket in one hand and a Friendly’s Coffee Milkshake in the other. A perfect day would end with a piece of blueberry pie. The time she spent with family and friends, both in person and on the phone, was precious time for her.

Wendy is survived by her two sons, Jay Walsh and his partner, Marie Markovic, of California, and Andy Walsh and his wife, Tracey, of Alabama; their two daughters, Riley and Shay, of Alabama, as well as son-in-law Bailey; her sister, Kim Butler ’64, of Branford, Connecticut; her sister Laurie Foley ’65, of Northampton; and her three children, Jennifer, Christopher ’93 and Liz ’94 and her husband Luis and son, Luca. In addition, she leaves Christopher’s daughter, Isla (the newest member of the family at one years old), and Ellie Gottschalk, Jennifer’s daughter. Wendy was predeceased by her beloved cat Casper. She adored all of them.

Rest in peace, dear Wendy. You will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, please go read a poem today.

Virginia Jane Duys, 91, of Shelton, Connecticut (formerly of Hollywood, SC and Wilton, CT) passed away peacefully in her home, November 23, 2024, after a brief illness.

She was preceded in death by her husband Henry M. Duys Jr. “Bimmy”, whom she married in 1971; her stepson Noah O. Duys; her sister Cornelia Miller, brother William van den Toorn, and her first husband Robin Nauta. She is survived by her brother Pieter van den Toorn (Catherine) and sister-in-law Susan van den Toorn; two children from her first marriage: Pieter Nauta (Elaine) of Purcellville, VA and Jacqueline Nauta-DeBlois (Don) of Trumbull; and two stepchildren: Lizabeth Lewellen (Quinton) of Harrison, ID, and Henry M. Duys III (Susan) of Brewster, NY; six grandchildren: Jessica Durie (Alex), Robin Fiftal (Jeremy), Mark Nauta, Melanie Salata, Joe Salata, Sloane Duys; and her great-granddaughter Kaylen Fiftal.

Virginia was born to Dutch parents on August 22, 1933 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, but grew up alternating between the US and Holland while her father served as the Director of the Holland America Line. She immigrated to the US and became a US citizen in the 1950s.

Virginia was the guiding light of her family. A devoted wife and loving mother/stepmother to her blended family of five children; she would always say that being a mom was all she ever wanted to be, and it gave her so much joy. This combined family was her life. She and Bimmy were active residents of Wilton, CT; owned and ran Stewart Flowers in Wilton Center for 10 years, then retired to SC where they became part of an extraordinary network of close friends who they loved like family. She was the mom everyone wanted to have and was always full of love and laughter, especially love for her family and those closest to her. Everyone she knew was better for knowing her, and her light will live on in so many ways. She will be missed always and forever in our hearts.

A celebration of Virginia’s life will be held later when the family plans to inter her along with Bimmy. The family would like to thank the many professional care givers at Brightview Senior Living of Shelton, Constellation Hospice, and Harmony Home Healthcare for all they did to make Virginia’s life so comfortable in her last weeks. If you would like to honor Virginia, please donate in her honor to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

It is with a sorrowful heart that the Linda S. Maynard family announces the loss of our matriarch. After decades of managing and coping with various chronic health conditions, Linda passed away unexpectedly during a brief hospitalization on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

Linda was born June 4, 1944, in Scarsdale, NY to Lewis and Jane Stanton. She was also raised by her step-father, Robert Rannow. Growing up in Scarsdale, Linda participated in various sports and community activities. She was known by many as “Sticky Stanton” for her field hockey skills.

She moved to Larchmont, NY in 1959 and attended high school at Northampton School for girls in Northampton, MA and graduated in 1962. She attended the University of Iowa through her sophomore year; then transferred to Burdette College in Boston, MA and graduated in 1966.

Linda moved to San Francisco, CA for three years and returned to the Upper Valley, residing in Hanover, NH in 1969 where she met Frank C. Maynard at the pharmacy. They married on September 30, 1973. They were married for 46 years until Frank passed away in 2019. Frank was her world. She was dedicated to Frank despite his last several years with dementia.

Linda worked at Kiewit Computation Center at Dartmouth College from 1973-1983 and transitioned to work at Snelling and Snelling in West Lebanon, NH from 1983-1985. She eventually retired for health reasons, and to be present for her family. She helped Frank exclusively with Newton Manufacturing Company, a specialty advertising business that was worked out of their home.

Linda was heavily involved at the West Lebanon Congregational Church where she attended for 50 years. She was a dedicated trustee, served as the head of stewardship, chairman of the minister search committee and sang in the church choir. She was also involved in women’s fellowship.

Linda enjoyed spending 10+ years of her time at the local CCBA Witherell Recreation Center taking fitness and water aerobic classes. She was a longtime member of an Upper Valley women’s bowling league, in addition to the Red Hat Society/Uptown Girls with whom she enjoyed monthly gatherings for the past 22 years. These women were special to her and something she looked forward to. Linda was involved in all of these enjoyable activities and service projects despite chronic health conditions.

Linda enjoyed playing golf in her earlier years with her family and frequently visited Pinehurst, NC. She enjoyed taking walks, watching golf, professional tennis and UNC college basketball on television. She was an avid player of scrabble, backgammon and spent hours completing puzzles. She was abundantly supportive and proud of her two children. Enjoyed following their professional endeavors and spending time with grandchildren during visits up north and down south. She especially looked forward to the last 13 years for an annual week long family gathering in the Outer Banks of NC.

Since 2020, and the decline of her health, Linda has benefited from the assistance and support of devoted caregivers. Serving various roles and companionship over the years to help optimize her quality of life.

Linda is survived by her two children, Frank Maynard III (Sarah) of Durham, NC and Dr. Cynthia Ward (Chris) of Roswell, GA; sister-in-law, Catherine Maynard of Randolph, VT; and four grandchildren Laney (17), Riley (14), Logan (12) and Finn (4). She was preceded in death by her father, mother and step-father; sister, Beth Bartlett; brother, Freddy Stanton and beloved husband, Frank C. Maynard, Jr.

A memorial service and funeral will be held at a later time in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the West Lebanon Congregational Church at 18 Maple Street, West Lebanon, NH 03784.

The family is very grateful and appreciative for the love and attention that the staff at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Fresenius Kidney Care provided to Linda over the years of her life.

Known to many as resilient and spunky, Linda will be greatly missed.