Margaret M. Ransden, 78

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Margaret M. Ransden, 78, of Williamstown died Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at home, surrounded by her family. 

She was born in St. Elmo, Ill., on July 29, 1937, daughter of the late Jesse J. and Delia (Koeberlein) Heischmidt. She graduated from St. Elmo High School ('55), and earned a B.S. in Home Economics Education from Eastern Ill. University ('59) and a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Development from University of Illinois ('63).

Margaret married Carl E. Ransden on September 14, 1963, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Elmo, Ill. As an Army wife stationed in various states around the country, Margaret worked as an elementary school teacher in St. Elmo, Anchorage, Alaska, and Leesville, La., as well as teaching home economics to middle school students in Danville, Ill., and to college students at St. Petersburg Fla., and Mattoon Ill. After the family’s move to her husband’s hometown of Williamstown in 1984, she was a sales representative for MetLife in Pittsfield for eight years. She spent the last years before retirement working in the fields of early childhood and home health care.

Margaret deeply loved and valued family. She found happiness in her flower garden, entertaining and cooking for anyone who came to visit. She had a keen hand at crafts; she never shied away from a challenge. Margaret was a communicant of Sts. Patrick and Raphael Parish in Williamstown and volunteered for multiple programs for the church.

Margaret was predeceased by Carl, her cherished husband of 50 years. 

Margaret leaves her children, James (Ed) Ransden of St. Louis, Mo., and his daughter Katherine; Jo Ellen Iskowitz and her husband Reuben of Bennington, Vt.; and Jeffrey Ransden and his wife Susan (Ostrowski) of Fairfield, Conn., and their sons Mitchell and Emmett; her siblings Pauline and Richard Zimmerman of Watson, Ill., Jesse and Pat Heischmidt of Altamont, Ill., Loretta Heischmidt of St. Elmo Ill.,, Elizabeth and Lester Stoner of  Charleston, Ill., Mark and Jennieann Heischmidt of St. Elmo, Ill.,, and Paul and Jan Heischmidt of Alton, Ill.

Funeral notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, April 19, at 11 a.m. at St's Patrick and Raphael Church in Williamstown. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery. 

Calling hours are Monday, April 18, from 5-7 p.m. at the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams. Memorial donations are suggested for Sts. Patrick & Raphael in Williamstown, Friends of Renal Dialysis – FORD, c/o Berkshire Medical Center Kidney Disease and Hypertension Center, 725 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, or HospiceCare in the Berkshires, 877 South Street Suite 1W, Pittsfield, MA 01201.