Susan Bradley Collins, of Pittsfield, departed this life peacefully, surrounded by family and love, on August 4, 2026. She was 81. Sue was born on April 23, 1945, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Eileen Reynolds Bradley and Elihu Francis Bradley. Sue was raised in West Hartford and graduated from Conard High School in 1963, attended Mount Saint Mary’s College in Hooksett, New Hampshire, and graduated in 1967 with a BA in Elementary Education. Sue met her future husband, Frederick Thomas Collins, at a mixer dance while he was attending Saint Anselm College. They were married on July 19, 1969, in West Hartford at Saint Mark’s Church, making their home and raising a family in Pittsfield shortly thereafter. Sue’s first job out of college was teaching 2nd Grade in Granby, CT, from 1967 to 1969. Upon moving to Pittsfield, she taught 2nd Grade from 1969 to 1971 in the Lenox Public Schools. From 1971 to 1979, Sue stepped back from her career to raise her family before returning to her love of teaching at the Tiny Tots preschool of the Girls Club of Pittsfield. In 1988, Sue was hired as a head teacher for the Chapter 1 preschool program for the Pittsfield Public Schools, working at Conte Community School until her retirement in 2007. Sue was a loving and natural educator who nurtured young minds and prepared countless children for kindergarten. She took great pride in knowing that every student left her classroom knowing their letter names and sounds. She filled her classroom with music, nursery rhymes, art, and heartfelt kindness. Sue was an unwavering supporter at sporting events and performances for her brothers, nieces and nephews, children, and grandchildren. She spent countless hours on fields, in hockey rinks, dance halls, and theaters. One of her most cherished traditions was tailgating with extended family before Yale football games at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, CT—a tradition started by her father in the 1940s that she proudly carried on with her own family into the mid-2010s. Sue loved her family infinitely. In retirement, Sue delighted in her growing family, especially her grandchildren. Every summer from 1975 to 2020, she spent two weeks with her family at the Cape House in West Falmouth, MA. She also enjoyed traveling with her loving husband to Ireland, Costa Rica, United Kingdom, France, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Sue was proud of her citizenship to the Republic of Ireland via descent from her maternal grandparents. Sue was predeceased by her parents and two brothers, Elihu “Chippy” Bradley and Kevin L. Bradley. She is survived by her husband, “Tom,” with whom she recently celebrated their 57th anniversary; her daughter, Jennifer Freshman (David) of Foxborough, MA; her son, Brendan B. Collins (Jan) of New Haven, VT; and her son, Cameron T. Collins (Rachel) of Pittsfield. “Grammy” leaves behind her most beloved grandchildren: Hannah, Quinn, Margaret, Samuel, and Irene Susan. She also leaves behind two brothers, G. Rohan Bradley III (Deborah) and Quentin P. Bradley (Cindy); sister-in-law Nancy Stangle (Kevin); and sisters-in-law Mary Collins McCormick (Lawrence) and Veronica Collins Vacchina (Paul), along with many nieces and nephews and cousins. The family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff of HospiceCare in the Berkshires and Kimball Farms Life Care for their compassionate support. Those wishing to honor Sue’s memory may donate to HospiceCare in the Berkshires in care of the Dwyer Funeral Home. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Sue will be Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 AM at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 89 Briggs Avenue, Pittsfield, celebrated by the Rev. Matthew Barone, Pastor. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

UPTON, Mass: Mary-Elizabeth “Meg” Houskeeper, 94, of Upton, Massachusetts and formerly of West Hartford, Connecticut, died peacefully at home on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was the wife of the late Robert M. Houskeeper, who passed away in 2020. Their life together began after meeting at a USO dance while Bob was stationed at Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, and she loved him dearly throughout their 64 yearlong marriage and the years following his death. Born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, she was the daughter of the late George and Mary (Hastings) Gordon. Meg grew up in Newburgh, New York, in a multi-generational home. She was raised by her mother and her grandparents, James and Isabella Hastings, along with her Uncle Charlie who lived next door. She was especially close to her grandfather, James. During the Depression, Meg’s family rented out rooms in their home. This experience sparked her lifelong interest in people; she spent much of her childhood on the family stoop talking to the various renters coming and going. She truly enjoyed learning about others and could strike up a meaningful conversation with anyone she met. Meg graduated at the top of her class from Mount Saint Mary Academy (“The Mount”) and earned her degree in Library Science from SUNY Geneseo. She worked as a school librarian in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and later for many years at the Smith and Charter Oak Elementary schools in West Hartford where she made many lifelong friends, three of which would visit her every year through the remainder of her life despite having moved to Massachusetts. She was a voracious reader of espionage novels and historical biographies, but she was most passionate about her own family history. As the family historian and a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), she made sure the stories of the family’s ancestors were passed down to her children and grandchildren. In her free time, she tended to her "English gardens”, intentionally wild and chaotic flower beds where she loved seeing what would pop up each spring. She was also a talented knitter, making many blankets, hats, hoodies and other handmade clothing for her family over the years. Meg was an only child, but she leaves behind a large family. She is survived by her children: Marshall Houskeeper and his wife Jean, of Upton, MA; James Houskeeper and his wife Lynn, of Bolton, MA; Mary Rivera and her husband German, of Upton, MA; and her former son-in-law Michael Donelan, of Newport, TN. She was the grandmother of eight: Rebecca Flaeter and her husband Joe, Sarah Leacu, Ashley Donelan and her wife Jill, Bridgette Donelan, Patrick Donelan, Katie Houskeeper, Susie Houskeeper, and Hope Rivera. She was the great-grandmother of six: Benjamin, Abby, and William Flaeter; George and Julia Leacu; and Mary Mae Donelan. She was predeceased by two great-grandchildren, Alexander and Bradley Leacu. Calling hours are Tuesday, May 19, from 10 to 11 A.M. at the Pickering & Son Upton Funeral Home, 45 Main Street, Upton, MA. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 A.M. at Lakeview Cemetery, North Main Street, Upton, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Hartford Public Library Foundation (www.westhartfordlibrary.org/library-foundation) Mother: I love you... Child: How much do you love me? Mother: Down to the monsters, and up to the sky! Child: Does the sky ever end? Mother: No, it keeps going, and going, and going... For her online tribute please visit www.UptonFunerals.com

Timothy “Tim” Butterworth, teacher, carpenter, writer and NH State Representative, died on January 25, 2026, during a blizzard he would have loved. He had Parkinson’s disease and CHF, but died of injuries from a fall. He was 81 years old. Tim, the second of four siblings, was born on May 18, 1944, in Hartford, CT, to Oliver and Miriam Butterworth. Tim’s childhood was spent in West Hartford, CT, and Center Sandwich, NH, where he was known for his strength in the stern of a canoe and where he developed an abiding love of New Hampshire’s mountains, lakes and forests. In 1966, he graduated from Dartmouth College. After marrying Sue Ann Hallock, he received his MA in American Literature from the University of North Carolina in 1967. He became a teacher at Vermont Academy and Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School, where he was a negotiator for the teachers union and fought for fair pay and health coverage. He and Sue purchased a farm in Chesterfield, NH. His marriage ended in 1976, but the farm known as Sugarbush Hill became Tim’s lifelong passion. With the help of his second wife, Kay Kloppenburg (m. 1984), the farm grew to be the epicenter of a community of students and travelers who began as housemates and, as a result of Tim’s warmth, care and inclusion, became family. Tim studied for an MAT in ESL at SIT in Brattleboro, VT, and taught in La Paz, Bolivia; Granada, Spain and San Jose, Costa Rica. He and Kay also spent a year in the DC area, where Tim worked for the Institute for Policy Studies. He was an ardent Democrat, frequently campaigning door-to-door across New England. He served as a Chesterfield Selectman (1996-2002), working for environmental conservation and marriage equality, and as a Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (2006-2010). Tim is survived by his wife Kay and their son Lateef Jackson (Melissa); children Brook (Benjamin Newland) and Ben (Diane Arabian); siblings Mike, Dan and Kate; five grandchildren; six nieces and nephews; and the people who stayed at his farm and became part of his chosen family. Tim’s family would appreciate your support for: The Women’s Advancement Initiative at University of Hartford Visit www.hartford.edu/womensadvancement and select “Make a Gift.” Type “Butterworth Family Fund” in the “Comments” section. Southern New Hampshire Indivisible Find a protest. Speak out. Donate. https://www.southernnhindivisible.org

Rhoda Steinberg, 98, died peacefully in her West Hartford, Connecticut home on Thursday, November 20. She was born in Hartford, Connecticut September 3, 1927. She is survived by her children and their spouses; Joan Steinberg and Russell Clift, Carol Steinberg and Jerome Rubin, and James Steinberg and Paola Di Stefano; grandchildren and their spouses Miriam Rubin and John Stewart, Noah and Jacquelin Steinberg-Di Stefano, Julia Rubin and Destiny Keitt, Ilana and Zachary Wyner, and Zoe Steinberg-Di Stefano and Tyler France; and great grandchildren Ezra, Melodie, Maya, Issolina, and Marlowe. She loved her family deeply and loudly, and was happiest when everyone was together. Rhoda is predeceased by her best friend Fran Friedman, brother Jerome Nisselbaum, parents Miriam and George Nisselbaum, as well as her first husband and father of her children Marvin Steinberg. She spent over 30 years with her loving partner and travel companion Gerald Kent before he passed away in 2018. Rhoda was a proud graduate of Weaver High School and University of Connecticut. She spent the majority of her career as a guidance counselor at Conard High School. She stopped at nothing to support young people to achieve their dreams, and did so while building lifelong friendships with her students and colleagues. Rhoda kept her brain sharp with daily crossword puzzles and her stomach happy with nightly chocolate almond chip ice cream. She was always reading, and kept handwritten reviews of every book, rating them on a scale of “Not Great” to “Excellent.” She was an avid learner until her final days -- engaged in politics, open-minded to those different from herself, and eager to learn about the rapidly-changing world around her. In recent years, Rhoda had several wonderful caregivers that kept her safe, shared stories with her, and made her laugh daily. Her family is extremely grateful to the women that grew to become Rhoda’s close friends, and made it possible for her to live out her life peacefully in her own home. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 25 at 10:00am at Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, CT. The shiva will be held Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00pm-4:00pm at 276 Westpoint Terrace, West Hartford, CT. All are welcome to join the family in remembering Rhoda. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Linda Irene Feldman died peacefully in Hartford, CT, surrounded by family, on July 26, 2025. She was 83 years old. She is survived by five children—Alec (Hilary Wagner) Feldman, Peter Feldman, Dennis Feldman, Jonathan (Amber Davis) Feldman, and Jill (Vishwas Badami) Feldman—and her brother, Robert. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Jeffrey Feldman. Mom loved the water and the sun, animals of all kinds, helping others, learning new things, gardening, a raucous laugh, and a well-formed sentence. She was born to Joseph and Gene Palatin in Havana, Cuba, on October 6, 1941, as they awaited passage to America in flight from Europe. The Palatins settled in Long Beach, NY. Linda attended Long Beach High School, where she met Jeffrey. They married in 1962, and had their first child, Alec, in 1964. A Siamese cat, the first of three for the family, perched on her belly throughout the pregnancy. Three more boys followed over the next eight years. In 1988, Linda and Jeff traveled to Peru to adopt their youngest child, Jill. After studying English literature at Barnard College and earning a masters at Yale, Linda attended law school at the University of Connecticut, graduating in 1978. She began a career as a tax and compensation attorney. The work absorbed her, but she didn't find her true calling until 2002, when she shifted careers to become a court-appointed probate attorney for those facing involuntary commitment. Linda was on call for her clients seven days a week, and took a special interest in every one of them. Though she didn't need to, she continued this work until last year, when complications from diabetes made it impossible to carry on. Though always busy with her career, home and family were Linda's life. The house was abuzz with five children and their friends, often serving as the hub, and with a menagerie of animals over the years: from an early mistake with a monkey through Siameses and dogs, tropical fish, parakeets, cockatiels, and lovebirds. Later it was reptiles, including lizards and turtles. Mom spoke with them all. She was the optimist of the family. She will be missed.

Diane (Burnham) Wilcox, 89, of Glastonbury and West Hartford, CT, passed away peacefully on July 14th, 2025. Diane was born on July 11th, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY. She was the daughter of Arthur and Mabel Burnham, and grew up on Long Island, NY. Driven and fiercely independent, Diane was a first-generation college graduate from the University of Connecticut in 1957. She enjoyed a fulfilling career as a Speech and Language Pathologist within the Newington School System for many years. She had an extraordinary knack for the English language, grammar, and diction. She found her academic career incredibly rewarding. She adored her home in West Hartford, and in her retirement could often be found amongst the trees or garden beds planting something new, and volunteering at the Asylum Hill Congregational Thrift Shop. She enjoyed hosting family and friends for holidays and special occasions. Through this, she created family traditions for years to come. Diane was immensely proud of her family heritage and deeply interested in genealogy. She was a member of the DAR and the Founders of Hartford. Her ancestor, Michael Burnham, was the original owner and editor of the New York Daily News. Additionally, several of her ancestors were founders of East Windsor, CT. Diane was a loving parent, grandparent, great grandparent, and a dear friend to many. She was predeceased by one brother, Major Richard A. Burnham of Colorado, and her former friend and husband, Leland D. Wilcox, Jr. of New Hampshire. Diane is survived by her children, Leland D. Wilcox III (Joanie) of Mystic, CT; Leslie Briggs (Mark) of Glastonbury, CT; and Leslie Wilcox of Millerton, NY; her grandchildren, Parker Wilcox (Carey) of Wilton, CT; Leland Wilcox IV of Colchester, CT; Austin Briggs of Glastonbury, CT; and Abigail Briggs of Northampton, MA; and her two great grandchildren, Leland Wilcox V & Grayson Wilcox of Colchester, CT. She is also survived by her lifelong friend, Dr. Charles Gunderson & his family in Florida. Diane was a longtime member of Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford. A private family service will be held on a later date. The family would like to thank caregivers Vivian and Agnes, as well as the kind staff at UConn John Dempsey Hospital for their commitment and compassion. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Doctors Without Borders or deathwithdignity.org.