Joan Hewins, 88, of Sheffield

Patricia Joan (Horan) Hewins, 88, of 840 Hewins Street passed away peacefully Dec. 1, 2018, in her home, lovingly surrounded by family.

Joan Hewins

She was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Albany, New York, to the late John S. Horan and Rena Coakley McGuire and stepfather Henry McGuire. Joanie was raised in Great Barrington and was a 1948 graduate of Searles High School. She was married to the late Walter “Bud” Hewins Jr. June 24, 1950, until his death 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 the children the 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; 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, Jacob, Liam, and Abby Hewins; great-grandchildren Walter ‘Quinn’ and Sydney Hewins, Bella Barnum, Jack, Naomi, and Alex Green, Avery Hutton, Savannah and Zoey Hewins, and Meka Loper; in-laws Priscilla Hewins, Robert “Ike” and Marie Hewins; and dearest friends Gretchen Hayes, Bea Zamperini, Deb Hewins, Janet Stanton, Kristy Lord Havens. Along with her husband, she was predeceased by siblings Charlene Anson, Jerry, Peter and Mickey McGuire, and grandchildren Tara Blackwell and Christopher Hewins.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at 11 a.m. with a graveside service officiated by Rev. Jill Graham at Sackett Cemetery in Ashley Falls. Calling hours will be Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOMEin 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 Outreachor Mote Marinemanatee rescue and research in care of Birches Roy Funeral Home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.