Maureen "Samm" Esposito

05/11/2006

Maureen "Samm" Esposito, 61, of 145 Hess Boulevard, Lancaster, Pa., formerly of North Adams, died Thursday at home of cancer. Born in Adams on Jan. 22, 1945, daughter of the late Horace and Celia Zarek Esposito, she was raised in North Adams and graduated from Drury High School. She attended Bennington (Vt.) College and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. She also obtained a bachelor's degree in business from Springfield College. During her early career, Ms. Esposito was a purchaser at various companies in Massachusetts, including the former Sprague Products, a division of Sprague Electric Co. She moved to Lancaster in the mid-1980s and was director of volunteers at North Museum of Natural History and Science, a position she held until her latest diagnosis of cancer. Before that, she worked in the nonprofit sector as director of a VISTA project with the Osceola County Council for Aging in Kissimmee, Fla., where she helped establish the Centro Latinoamericano Edad de Oro program. Ms. Esposito received commendations from the BRAVO organizaton for her "valuable leadership, support and dedication to the Hispanic Community in Osceola County." She was a member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Lancaster, where she was interim treasurer and a member of the Consistory and the Pastoral Search Committee. She was an activist with the American Cancer Society and was on the planning committee of the Survivors' Conference as well the Lancaster Cancer Center's Relay for Life team. She leaves her partner, Karen Elizabeth King, with whom she resided, and two sisters, Patricia Garrity of Bourne and Kathleen Thompson of Williamstown. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Friends, relatives and loved ones are invited to celebrate the life of Maureen "Samm" Esposito on Wednesday at 11 at the family plot in Southview Cemetery in North Adams. Samm died peacefully at home surrounded by family, friends and loved ones on May 11, 2006. Flowers may be sent or memorial contributions sent to St. Peter's United Church of Christ Building Fund, the American Cancer Society or the Healing Journey at Lancaster Cancer Center through FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, WEST CHAPEL, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. She also leaves brothers-in-law John "Jack" Garrity and Gary Thompson; nieces Jean Garrity of Teaticket and Lindsay Thompson of Williamstown; Glenn and Joan King, and Sarah King, all of Rocky Hill, Conn.; Andrew King of Boston, and Barbara King of Naples, Fla. She was predeceased by a nephew, John "Jack" Garrity. Samm had a unique ability to touch the hearts of others with her dry sense of humor, sensitivity and openness. She was a wonderful friend, precious companion and grace-filled soul who walked gently on this earth. She will be dearly missed.

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Maureen "Samm" Esposito

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