Ann B. Paszko

LANCASTER: Ann B. Paszko, 87, passed away on Monday, December 18, 2023 at Apple Valley Rehab and Nursing. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Henry "Hank" Paszko.
Ann is survived by her children, Paul Paszko and Jane Paszko. She is also survived by her brother, Robert Morrill of North Port, FL/Leominster; niece and goddaughter, Margaret Morrill of Agawam; first cousins, Elaine Strier of Medfield and Ann Freiss of Rockport; niece Elizabeth Delaney of Oregon, and nephews, Arthur Morrill III and John Morrill of California. Ann was also predeceased by her parents, her brother Arthur Morrill Jr., niece and goddaughter, Kathleen Pettyjohn, niece, Jane Golden-Schmidt, and first cousins Jane Minnucci and Kathleen Orcutt.
Ann was born on October 23, 1936 in Concord and grew up in Maynard. She was the second child of Arthur & Elizabeth Cullinane (Thompson) Morrill. Ann attended Maynard Public Schools as well as St. Michael's Grammar School and graduated high school from St. Michael's Academy in Hudson in 1954, with Cardinal Cushing officiating at the Graduation Mass. She then went on to study at John Robert Powers Finishing School for personal development, executive skills and modeling. After that, she attended Wyndham Secretarial School in Boston and following graduation, went to work at IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY. Ann eventually returned to Massachusetts to work at the IBM Bedford location near Hanscom Air Force Base. She then began her career as the executive secretary for the Administrator and President at General Radio Company in West Concord. Here she met Henry Paszko, whom she married in May 1963. She then continued her secretarial skills at Nuclear Metals in Concord after her marriage.
In 1967, Ann got her Certificate of Proficiency at Simmons School, Inc. for Floral Designing and Decorating. She then worked at Sudbury Floral until the birth of her first child Jane Marie. In 1970, Ann and Hank moved to Lancaster, where she continued to teach flower design evening adult education classes offered at the Gallagher School in Leominster for many years, as well as her home studios.
After the diagnosis of her son, Paul with Autism (PDD-NOS), Ann became a strong advocate with her groundbreaking efforts for children with special needs and their guardians. She was one of the pioneer mothers in the area and was a member of several Chapter 766 Special Education Committees. Ann also served as a Lancaster School Committee member in the 1970's. She worked with New England Center for Autism (Children) in Southboro and was an active member of the Board of Trustees for Perkins School (now RFK) in Lancaster. Ann and Hank were awarded a Distinguished Service Award on behalf of the Perkins School and Adult Elder Services on June 9, 2010. They were also awarded Distinguished Citizen Awards by the Arc of Massachusetts on September 16, 2010, at the State House for their dedication and leadership in advancing opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hank and Ann were members of the DMR's North Central Citizen's Advisory Board for several years. Ann received many other recognitions of distinguished achievement and appreciation throughout her years of advocacy. She also worked at the Autism Resource Center as a part time senior consultant.
Ann was a woman of many talents. She started playing the piano at age 3. She sang in the St. Cecilia's Choir in Leominster for many years. She was a maven of floral design, creating bouquets and centerpieces for hundreds of local weddings, church altars and private gatherings. She named her floral design shop, The Country Palette, where her husband would grow the flowers from their greenhouses at Herbal Acres.
Ann was in several entrepreneurial businesses with her friends, Beverly Kenny and Joan Richards over the years, including Shaklee, Amway, Unicity Nutrition and many others. In the 1980's, Ann achieved the master level of cosmetic training and was a Color Consultant for Artistry.
Ann was a former member of the Garden Club, the Historical Society and the Current Topics Club of Lancaster. She taught CCD for several years at Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster. Ann, her husband, and friends enjoyed numerous trips to the Eastover Resort in Lenox on weekends. She also enjoyed road-trips with her friend Mary Lento, whom she advocated with for their sons with Autism.
Ann's family would like to thank her neighbors for their support, the nurses and aides on the second floor of Clinton Hospital for their outstanding care, Lisa and the staff at the Day Break Program in Hudson and Northborough, and Ann's angel and good friend, Joanne Hokanson.
Calling hours will be held from 12 until 2PM on Saturday, January 6, 2024 in the Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water Street, Clinton. A Prayer Service will be held at 2PM in the funeral home, followed by Words of Remembrance by family and friends. Burial will be held privately. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Ann Paszko to: Better Day-Adult Social Day Program, 195 Reservoir St., Marlborough, MA 01752.