Miriam Elizabeth MacPhee

Miriam Elizabeth (Russo) MacPhee, age 87, a longtime resident of Heath, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at her home in Forest Hills. Miriam was born December 18, 1937 in North Providence, Rhode Island to the late Ralph and Miriam (Castle) Russo.

Miriam attended school in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. While at Tolman Senior High School, she met, fell in love with, and married James Edward “Jim” MacPhee, her husband of 48 years until his death in 2004. Miriam worked at the Lance Paper Box Company as a young mother prior to devoting herself full-time to the needs of her family. Miriam and Jim relocated to Newark in 1973 and to Heath in 1976. Miriam’s passions included gardening, cooking, and caring for all those around her – neighbors, friends, wildlife and, most recently, her beloved dog, Casey. She especially enjoyed returning to New England to visit with family and to enjoy the sights and sounds of the ocean. We will miss her deeply.

Miriam is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, James A. “Jim” and Elise MacPhee of Newark and Gary and Mary MacPhee of Martinsville, NJ; grandchildren, Katherine “Katie” (Paul) Swartz of Heath, Allison (Nicholas) LaForce of Granville, Christopher MacPhee of Bound Brook, NJ, Joseph (Ashley) MacPhee of Mount Laurel, NJ, and Alexander MacPhee of Philadelphia, PA; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Jaxon, and Jaycee Swartz and Meredith and Isabelle LaForce.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross or to the Licking County Humane Society.

Miriam will be laid to rest with her husband at Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Miriam and her family.