Erma Macy

MACY, Erma Erma Macy, loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away on Monday, (October 5, 2009) at Caleb-Hitchcock Hospital at Duncaster in Bloomfield. Born in Hartford, January 28, 1927, the daughter of Morris and Bertha Shapiro, she had been a resident of Hartford and Bloomfield almost all of her life.

She was a graduate of Hillyer College (now part of the University of Hartford), and an active member of the Emanuel Synagogue, the Emanuel Sisterhood and a life member of the Hartford Branch of Hadassah. In addition, she served as the founding Chair and a long time member of the Town of Bloomfield's Advisory Committee on Services to People with Disabilities.

Under her leadership, the Bloomfield Advisory Committee on Services to People with Disabilities won state and national awards for meeting and exceeding the ADA standards and requirements. She was the recipient of many awards for her active volunteering efforts, including the Emanuel Sisterhood's Woman of Achievement Award, and a special citation from the Town of Bloomfield for her path braking and devoted work on behalf of the town's residents with special needs.

She recently published "Erma's Treasure Chest", a book of over 300 poems that she wrote over the past 40 years. Erma's lifelong devotion to family, friends and to those with disabilities serves as an inspiration to all who knew her and her positive approach to overcoming difficulties and finding the good that can be done, serves as a model of virtue and strength.

She is survived by her beloved husband of over 62 years, Dr. Neil Macy; her two children, Dr. Jeffrey Macy and Sheri Macy; her daughter-in-law, Rachel Macy and son-in-law, Chuck Fors, and two granddaughters, Daphne and Noa Macy.

The family would like to give special thanks to Carol Mortenson and the staff of the Caleb-Hitchcock Hospital; to the McLean Hospice and their devoted staff and volunteers, under the leadership of Dr. Robert Dicks, especially to Linda Lawrence, RN, CHPN, Jerri Pease and Nora Fox, for their extraordinary loving and compassionate care and assistance; to Daisy Reid-Morrison, Erma's long-term private aide, who cared for her with love, affection and devotion; to the staff of the Duncaster Assisted Living Department, under the direction of Arlene Parmelee; and to all of Erma's many friends for their support and concern.

Funeral Services will be held in the Main Sanctuary of the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, on Wednesday, October 7, at 11 a.m. Rabbi David Small, Cantor Sanford Cohen and Mr. Moshe Pinchover will officiate. The funeral preparations and arrangements are under the direction of the Weinstein Mortuary. Interment Service follows at the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery, 1361 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Caleb Hitchcock Hospital, to the McLean Hospice, to the Dr. Neil and Erma Macy Accessibility Fund at the Emanuel Synagogue, or to a charity of the donor's choice. The family will observe a memorial period at the home of Gloria Bein, 4 West Ridge Drive, West Hartford, from Wednesday, after the interment, until Friday at 4 p.m. Visiting hours on Thursday and Friday will begin at 11 a.m., and a Minyan will be held Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. For further information, directions, or to sign the guestbook for Erma, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.