Beverly A. Ziomek

Beverly Ann (Giles) Ziomek, 92, died in her home at Applewood in Amherst on October 31, 2025.
Beverly was born in Marlborough, MA on May 11, 1933, the daughter of Miriam Parker (Storms) Giles and Clifton F. Giles. She spent her childhood in Sudbury, attending a one room school house through the 4th grade on the Wayside Inn property owned by Henry Ford. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1955, with a degree in sociology and a minor in education, and then went on to receive a Master of Education (1959) while also teaching 6th grade in Amherst. Within a year of her marriage to Stanley P. Ziomek, Beverly left teaching to raise a family of six boys. Once her sons were all in school, she returned to teaching for nine years at the First Congregational Church Pre-School in Amherst. Later, she obtained her real estate license which she retained for over 20 years. In 1984, she graduated from nursing school at Greenfield Community College where she delivered the student address at graduation. She went on to serve as a nurse, primarily with the American Red Cross until 2002.
The responsibility of raising six sons fell to Beverly, since Stan worked long days managing the Amherst Department of Public Works as well as the Amherst Baseball Leagues. She served as chef, chauffeur and driving instructor, tutor, and nurse, attended school and sporting events (often multiple events on the same day), and made sure her sons grew up with good heads on their shoulders. Above all, she was Mom. While never an enthusiastic cook, she nevertheless managed to feed a family of eight on a shoestring budget, canning and freezing vegetables and fruit from the family gardens each summer and fall. From her mother-in-law, she learned how to make dill pickles and several Polish recipes which became standards at the Ziomek dinner table. While there were one or two trips to the hospital over the years, amazingly, none of her sons broke an arm or a leg while they were growing up and on her watch.
Beverly was particularly close to her parents who moved to Amherst later in life which allowed her to care for both parents at the end of their lives. Beverly was also close to her older sister Barbara and younger brother Clifton, Jr. (Kip), and spoke with them weekly by phone. Before Stan's death in 2016, Beverly became his primary caregiver. Never the easiest of patients, Stan had the medical attention, love, and support he needed when it became necessary.
Beverly was a gifted quilter with a keen eye for color, enjoyed making teddy bears and hooked rugs, sewing, and basketmaking, and took classes in theorem painting and calligraphy. Her quilts were exhibited at the Hill Institute in Florence, MA, where, at the age of 90, she even took public transportation to attend a series of classes in basketmaking. She also loved opera and regularly attended Met Opera broadcasts. Her love for the voice and singing of Luciano Pavarotti was steadfast. She had fond memories of seeing the original Broadway cast of My Fair Lady from the fifth row, center orchestra and said with some certainty that its star, Rex Harrison, was singing directly to her. Antiques, antiquing, and attending auctions were favorite pastimes even if some of the "finds" ended up in one of the driveway tag sales she and Stan often organized. In 1956, a six-week cross-country road trip Beverly made with three other Amherst teachers was novel enough at that time for it to receive coverage in the Sudbury Citizen, her hometown newspaper. She would have liked to travel more in her life, but had wonderful memories of a trip to England with Stan and a trip to Italy with her son John, in addition to trips to various other locations closer to home.
From the time of her marriage in 1957, until she moved to Applewood in Amherst in 2017, Beverly lived in a mid-19th century home in North Amherst. She and Stan purchased the fixer-upper and worked on numerous projects over the years to do just that. Together with her mother, Beverly wallpapered several rooms, and on her own she sanded and refinished the wide floorboards and woodwork in the house. While she readily admitted that there were numerous challenges and drawbacks to living in a drafty old house, she loved it all the same and had many fond memories of life on Montague Road.
Beverly had a great capacity to care for family members, friends, and neighbors. Despite the fact that her age and health issues were starting to take their toll, she was always more concerned about the health and well being of a family member, a friend, or an Applewood neighbor. She loved hugs, especially if you gave her a second or third one at the beginning and end of a visit.
In Amherst, Beverly leaves behind her sons Peter, David, and Dan, and their wives Megin, Maria, and Emily. Beverly's other sons Mark, Andrew, and John also live in Massachusetts with their spouses Gary, Sherri, and Jennifer. Another son, Christopher Edward Ziomek, predeceased Beverly in 1960; she kept his memory with her throughout her life. Beverly's ten grandchildren brought her great joy and pride in all of their accomplishments. She always enjoyed spending time with them, attending their school and sporting events when possible, and watching them grow into the people they are today. She was overjoyed to welcome four great-grandchildren in recent years. Beverly was predeceased by her parents, her sister and brother, as well as her husband Stan.
At Beverly's request all services will be private and she will be interred at the North Amherst Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002.
Memorial guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com