Anne P. Plunkett

1944 - 2021

Anne P. Plunkett

Heath , MA — Anne Palmer Plunkett, 77, of Heath, died on December 7th at Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst. The cause of her death was uterine cancer. She had been under the care of Pioneer Valley Hospice and Palliative Care for approximately six months, and living at home with her wife, prior to transitioning to Fisher Home, where she received loving care during the last month of her life.

Anne was born in Chicago, IL on May 9, 1944, the daughter of Nancy Reta Palmer and Robert G. Plunkett. She was raised in Stamford, CT with three siblings: Robert, Peter and Mary. She attended Baldwin School for girls and graduated from Chatham College in Philadelphia, PA, with a degree in Sociology. She worked at varied and interesting jobs. She often talked about how much she loved running summer camps in the projects of Philadelphia. She worked for the Environmental Fund in Washington D.C. She had a job in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, where her role involved attending to the needs of recipient families in their homes.

Anne yearned to move from the city and relocated to the Shenandoah Valley. She took a job in Front Royal, VA as a buyer for Royal Oak Bookshop and would often travel to New England to tap into its incredible wealth of books. In 1987, during of one of her many trips, she made a stop in Greenfield and immediately fell in love with the public library building. Her love eventually extended to include all of Franklin County.

Anne began to skillfully create a life which included two of her greatest passions: books and animals. She decided to move to New England and purchased a home in Heath, MA. She was accompanied in this move by her former partner and life-long friend, Chris Herdell, as well as their 11 cats, two dogs and two chickens, all rescues. (The chickens had been adopted after falling off of a Purdue truck!)

Continuing to follow her intense love and vast knowledge of books, Anne purchased a small bookstore in Shelburne Falls called Bridge St. Books. She soon renamed the store Boswell's Books and rescued a sweet tiger cat to live full-time amongst the books and the customers. She, of course, named the cat Boswell. After years of selling books in Shelburne Falls, Anne sold the business and purchased Bartleby's Books in Wilmington, VT. (Boswell's Books is still operating in Shelburne Falls, with a wonderful selection of books and Boswell number five, the beautiful black and white resident cat.)

Anne eventually retired from the business of selling books to the leisure of devouring them. She often remarked, after retiring, that she now had time to actually read books and not just book reviews! During retirement, she was also a volunteer for what was then Franklin County Home Care, (now Lifepath), in the Ombudsmen program.

Anne will be remembered for her brilliant mind, clever sharp wit and robust laugh. She possessed an enormous breadth of curiosity. Her feelings and opinions were strong and passionate, and she did not hesitate to express them. She was a loyal friend and when she loved, she loved hard! She was a champion of the often-forgotten, people and animals. She loved and was loved by many, especially her wife of 28 years, Amy Metzler-Clough. Amy will be forever grateful to Pioneer Valley Hospice and Palliative Care for their help and guidance throughout Anne's illness, and to the Hospice of the Fisher Home for their excellent, compassionate care of Anne in the last month of her life. Memorial contributions may be made to Pioneer Valley Hospice and Palliative Care or to Hospice of the Fisher Home. It was Anne's adamant wish that there be no services after her passing, and that wish will be honored.

Anne's end of life care entrusted to the McCarthy Funeral Homes of Greenfield, MA. Remembrances may be posted to Anne's Tribute Wall @ www.mccarthyfuneralhomes.com