Leeds- Elaine L. MacInnis, 94, of 469 Audubon Road, passed away peacefully at home on June 1, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She passed away after a long illness.
Born in Northampton on November 4, 1928, Elaine was the daughter of Alma and Arthur LaSalle of Northampton. She was educated at the Sacred Heart School, then Northampton High School, from which she graduated in 1946. She has lived in the Northampton area since birth.
After graduating from NHS, Elaine worked at Northampton, Cooperative Bank, where she met her future husband, Frederick MacInnis. Soon after their marriage, they built a home on Florence Road in Florence where they raised their four wonderful children. At this house she had a small office, doing work for Winstrom Corporation while also raising her children. Several years later, she worked at ITI Inc. of Holyoke. She was employed by Kollmorgen Corporation for many years, retiring in 1989 as Vice President of Sales.
While at Kollmorgen she traveled internationally in her sales capacity. In 1983 she and Fred built their retirement home on Audubon Road in Leeds. Soon after they built this house, she became the matriarch of the new neighborhood. The two were married for 51 years before Mr. MacInnis’ death in December 2000.
She is also remembered as an accomplished quilter whose work was shown at various quilting shows in New England. Each unique and aesthetically beautiful quilt was made with loving care, many having been passed down to her children and grandchildren. She was also an active member of the Friends of Lilly Library. In her role as Treasurer, she managed the membership roster and participated in grants designed to fund the library.
She leaves her four children and their spouses, Janine and her husband David Niedziela of Feeding Hills Massachusetts, Deborah MacInnis and her husband Allen Weiss of Santa Barbara California, Robert and his wife Sue MacInnis of Huntington Massachusetts, and Mark and his wife Marianne MacInnis of York South Carolina, and her sister Dorothy Duda of Agawam Massachusetts. She was a doting grandmother to eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She also leaves her numerous quilting and Lilly Library friends. During her illness, she was blessed with ten caregivers who provided passionate and dedicated care.
The visitation will be held at the Ahearn Funeral Home, 783 Bridge Rd., Northampton from 8:00-9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7th with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at Annunciation Chapel, 85 Beacon St., Florence, with Rites of Committal and burial to follow at St. Mary Cemetery, 235 N. Elm St., Northampton, Ascension Section.
Memorial gifts can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (
https://www.alz.org/
).
Ahearn Funeral Home
(413)587-0044