Theresa B. Louison, 84

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Theresa Bertha Louison, 84, of West Main Street died on Thursday, June 18, 2015, at Berkshire Medical Center.

Mrs. Louison was the executive director of Northern Berkshire Community Action for 25 years. The Family Life Support Center in Adams was named Louison House in her honor. She was also a well known advocate for people in need, including the Head Start program, and Meals on Wheels. She was first involved as the director of the Adams Community Action Center in the 1960s, then head of its successor, Northern Berkshire Community Action.

Mrs. Louison was recognized in fall 2014 on the 25 anniversary of the opening of Louison House, which has provided transitional shelter and training for the homeless since 1989.In recognizing her efforts, Mark Gold, a founder of the house with Mrs. Louison, said, "she provided inspiration. Here was a woman who devoted herself tirelessly to improving the lot of others. We knew statistics; she knew people. She knew their stories. She knew their despair and hopelessness."

Born in Pittsfield on Sept. 17, 1930, the daughter of Kristantos and Elizabeth Eurbin Ginthwain, Mrs. Louison graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1948.

She enjoyed cooking, gardening, crocheting, playing cards and bingo but most of all being surrounded by her family.

She and her husband, Charles Louis Louison, were married on May 9, 1953, in St. Joseph's Church in Pittsfield.

Besides her husband of 62 years, she leaves six daughters, Beverly Naughton and her husband, Michael, of Cheshire, Jayne Gamache and her companion, Arthur Woodward, and Susan Nolan and her husband, John, all of North Adams, of North Adams, Patricia Rosse and her husband, Glenn, of Cheshire, Dolores Hamm and her husband, Garry, of Plymouth, N.H., and Donna Michalski of South Carolina; a son, Lawrence Louison of North Adams; a brother, Robert Ginthwain and his wife, Gail, of Charlotte, N.C.; 14 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her four brothers, Francis Ginthwain, Richard Ginthwain, Joseph Ginthwain Sr., and Kristantos Ginthwain.

FUNERAL NOTICE — A funeral to celebrate the life of Mrs. Louison will be held on Friday, June 26, at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth's Church. Calling hours will be Friday morning from 9 to 10:30 at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams. A private burial will be determined at a later time. In lieu of flowers; donations in her memory may be made in care of the funeral home.