Patricia Elaine Wagner

1946 - 2015

AMHERST - Tuesday, May 19, 2015, Amherst lost a legendary woman. Patricia Elaine Wagner surrendered to her battle with brain cancer; probably the first thing in her life she surrendered to.

Born March 1, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Kazimer and Veronica (Koloski) Mitchell of Crest View Farms, Amherst. They raised an incredibly passionate woman who put everyone before herself all the time. She continually looked out for those who needed their voices heard.

As a teenager she traveled the country playing music with some amazing women, the Pizzitola Orchestra. She graduated from Amherst Regional High School and continued on to receive a degree from Northampton Community College.

She began her career path working as a paralegal for Attorney Paul Ford. She then shifted gears to work as a bookkeeper for Summerlin Trust, and finished out with the Pub and Rafters until the final months of life. She just was honored for her 30 years of leadership and contributions to the Tally-Ho 4-H Horse Club and 4-H in general. Her community services did not stop there. She was an advocate of the agricultural world and was influential in many steps towards fair and just regulations on local, county and state levels. She was a board of director for Farm Bureau and the Massachusetts Quarter Horse Association. She also supported the idea of community, she was the chair of the Amherst's 250th Celebrations Committee, served as a Town Meeting member, board of assessors, finance committee, agricultural committee and the treasurer of the Amherst Boys and Girls Club. She was a lifelong Amherst resident and parishioner of St. Brigid's Church.

She is survived by her sister Barbara Mitchell; her husband Eugene Wagner; her two daughters, Michelle Dionne and Veronica Wagner; and grandson Brian Dionne. In addition are the countless relatives, friends and alliances she built over the years while volunteering to make the world a better place.

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 23, at 9 a.m. from the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Brigid's Church, Amherst. Burial will follow in St. Brigid's Cemetery, Hadley. Calling hours will be Friday, May 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tally-Ho 4-H Horse Club of Amherst.

Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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