SOUTHWICK: Constance (Connie) Dickinson Johnson passed peacefully away on January 4th, 2021 at her home in Southwick, MA with her family at her side. Born May 31, 1929 in Springfield, she was raised in Longmeadow until the Dickinson family moved to Southwick as she started her senior year at Westfield High School joining the Class of 1947. She graduated from Colby Junior College (now Colby-Sawyer) in 1949. On Sept 1, 1951 she married Eldon H. Johnson of Southwick. They built a home on Bugbee Road and went on to raise three children who survive her: Stuart (and Susan) Johnson of Cornwall, Vermont. Joy (and Jim) Biggart of Old Saybrook, CT. Heidi L. (and Geoff LeBaron) Johnson of Williamsburg, MA. She has five beloved grandchildren: Martha, Matt (Maggie), Trevor (Stacey), Erik (Emily), and Jeb, two great-grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Eldon, her parents, and two sisters, Natalie and Beverly.
Family was her priority in life; she always looked forward to family gatherings. Her memory remained sharp and she enjoyed talking about the family history, artifacts, and hand-me-downs. She was passionate about history (especially local history), buildings, and the Southwick Historical Society. She spent many years volunteering with the Girl Scouts, was active with the Southwick Congregational Church and Southwick Grange, volunteered at the Westfield Cancer House of Hope, and was a poll worker in the Southwick town election. She was an excellent organizer, be it in an office, at meetings, or programs. She was the secretary for many of the groups she participated in, as well as to the Principals of Southwick Elementary and Middle Schools.
Connie enjoyed traveling, especially to see family, camping in her Serro Scotty camper, Tole painting, flowers, Christmas decorations, musicals, and decorating. She was one of a group of raucous card players, and a passionate Scrabble player. Connie always wanted to know details of what was going on, especially locally. She thoroughly enjoyed her years at the “Cottages At Southwick” (formerly American Inn) meeting new, and re-meeting old, friends.
A memorial service will be held in the Spring. Despite her love of flowers, the family suggests memorials go to the Southwick Congregational Church or the Southwick Historical Society.
