Patricia J. Hewins, 88
ASHLEY FALLS, Mass. — Patricia Joan (Horan) Hewins, 88, of 840 Hewins Street passed away peacefully on December 1, 2018, in her home, lovingly surrounded by family.
She was born September 24, 1930, in Albany, N.Y., to the late John S. Horan and Rena Coakley McGuire and step-father Henry McGuire. Joanie was raised in Great Barrington, Mass., and was a 1948 graduate of Searles High School. She was married to the late Walter “Bud” Hewins Jr. on June 24, 1950, until his death on March 31, 2005.
She worked for the New England Telephone Company. She and her husband owned and operated W.D. Hewins Construction. She was a vibrant 4-H leader to the Busy Kittens and the Hardworking Hornets, teaching her children they ways of homesteading, including farming, sewing and cooking. She also served on the board of directors for the Ashley Falls Cemetery Association.
Joanie could usually be found driving her gator around the family farm, and she will be affectionately remembered for her open-door and welcoming personality. She always loved spending time with her big family and many friends; notably her summer getaways with her grandchildren to York Beach, Maine. Back home, she enjoyed hosting shop parties, pool side picnics, family hay baling, apple picking, haunted hay rides, Christmas Eve celebrations and daily coffee time in her kitchen.
She is survived by her children, Theresa and Frankie Licata, Cheryl Hutton, Mike and Laurene Hewins, Timothy Hewins and Beth Hull, Thomas Hewins, Tammy Hewins Blackwell, Pamela and Terrence O’Reilly and Cindy and Trip Evans; her siblings, Maureen McGuire, Susan and Mick McAlpine, James McGuire and Kathy McGuire; her grandchildren, Walter and Kendra Hewins, Eric Hewins, Becky Hewins, Dustin Hewins, Meghan Licata and Glen Barnum, Tanya and John Green, Jessica Hutton, Fred Hutton and Kristie Agar, Dylan Blackwell and Lauren Scanlon, Ella and Jimmy Loper, Erin Blackwell, Madeline Storey, Malachai O’Reilly, and Jacob, Liam, and Abby Hewins; her great-grandchildren, Walter "Quinn" and Sydney Hewins, Bella Barnum, Jack, Naomi, and Alex Green, Avery Hutton, Savannah and Zoey Hewins, and Meka Loper; her in-laws, Priscilla Hewins, Robert "Ike" and Marie Hewins; and her dearest friends, Gretchen Hayes, Bea Zamperini, Deb Hewins, Janet Stanton and Kristy Lord Havens.
Along with her husband Bud, she was predeceased by siblings Charlene Anson, Jerry, Peter, and Mickey McGuire; and grandchildren Tara Blackwell and Christopher Hewins.
Funeral notice: Funeral services for Mrs. Hewins will be held Thursday, December 6, 2018, at 11 a.m. with a graveside service officiated by Rev. Jill Graham at Sackett Cemetery in Ashley Falls, Mass. Calling hours will be Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at the Birches-Roy Funeral Home in Great Barrington from 3 to 6 p.m.
Expressions of sympathy in Joanie’s memory may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, Hearts of the Father Outreach or Mote Marine (manatee rescue and research - www.mote.org) in care of Birches Roy Funeral Home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230.