Delories "Dee" Garnish, 93

Delories “Dee” Garnish passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of the Winter Solstice, Decembe 21, at the Maple Ridge Memory Care facility in Essex Vermont, near her daughter Mary. She was 93. After living with dementia/Alzheimers for the past four years, she is now at peace. 

  Born in the Upper Penisula of Michigan to the late Mary and Matthew Tezak, Dee was the eldest of four to three brothers, Fred, John, and Tom. She attended Ironwood schools, and then the Spencerian Business College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was in Milwaukee where she met the love of her life, Paul Garnish, who was attending the Milwaukee School of Engineering. 

  Paul and Dee were married in 1951 in Ironwood. In 1952 they started their family with the birth of their first son, Paul. Shortly after, Paul was hired by Sprague Electric Company and they moved to North Adams and then Williamstown, Massachusetts and had three more children, Fred, John, and Terese. Paul was transferred to Concord, New Hampshire, and they continued to grow their family with the births of James, Mary, Laura, and Matthew. One more move, back to Williamstown, and one more boy Thomas, and there they made their home.

   It’s not a surprise that Dee was happiest when in the company of her children and family. Though she’d protest when the boys “rough housed” in the middle of the kitchen, she was in her glory. She wanted all of her children to play musical instruments as she had musicians in her family growing up. She loved to golf so that was another thing she wanted her kids to take up, and almost all of them were golfers at some point, and many still enjoy the game thanks to her influence. 

  Dee had many interests and hobbies (in addition to her kids and their sports or artistic endeavors). She was an artist and produced many oil paintings through the years, and tried her hand at watercolors and pastels. She was an excellent knitter and made sweaters for everyone in the family. A nickname of “Energizer Bunny” was very fitting as she had so much energy and rarely sat still. She walked for exercise, practiced yoga many years before it became trendy, enjoyed gardening, cross-country skiing, and was in a bowling league, among other activities. Dee and Paul had some awesome square dancing outfits, all matchy matchy. They had many dear friends with whom they went to the dances, played bridge, golf, and dominoes. There might be photos of some crazy trips in an RV to some of those dances, or to golf tournaments with the ladies... They knew how to have fun!

 Dee’s favorite job was being a mother and loving grandmother and aunt, but she also worked in the community for various organizations and was active in Sts. Patrick and Raphael Parish. For over 30 years she worked in the Financial Aid office at Williams College and became a surrogate mother to many students along the way. 

  Dee was predeceased by her husband Paul, her youngest son Tom, her brother John Tezak, her grandsons Freddie Garnish and Joey Ducey. She leaves her son Paul (wife Elizabeth, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren), her son Fred (two grandchildren, six great-grandchildren), son John (wife Holly, four grandchildren), daughter Terese Holzthum (husband Tom, three granddaughters, five great-grandchildren), son James (wife Emily, one granddaughter), daughter Mary Bauman (husband Alan, two granddaughters, one great-grandson), daughter Laura (two grandsons), and son Matthew (wife Annie, one granddaughter). Dee also leaves behind her brother Fred Tezak and his wife Marge, her youngest brother Tom Tezak and his wife Kari, sister-in-law Mae Mancari and her husband Fran, and all of their children and families whom she loved very much. Dee will be dearly missed by all who knew her warm smile and generosity. 

  The family would like to thank the wonderful team at the UVM Home Health & Hospice for their tender care of their mother in her final months. They also extend thanks to then entire staff and nurses at Maple Ridge Memory Care for their attention and care while Dee lived there.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 18, from 4:00 to 7:00pm at Flynn Dagnoli Funeral Home WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated w Friday, January 19 at 11:00am at Saints Patrick and Raphael Church in Williamstown, Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.