Shelburne Falls, MA – Kathleen Patch Upton, 93, passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday January 12, 2026.
She was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts on July 14, 1932. Kathleen is survived by her two children, daughter Julie A. Upton-Wang, her husband Peiming Wang, son Mark P. Upton, his wife, Joanne Upton and 4 Grandchildren, 7 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great Great Grandchild as well as several nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. Kathleen was predeceased by her husband, Donald T. Upton, her parents William T. Patch and Viola C. Shippee as well as her brother Willam H. Patch.
Kathleen was married to Donald T. Upton on June 20, 1954 in the Patch Brothers’ apple orchard decorated with a plethora of mountain laurel on Rand Road. Kathleen grew up at 11 Masonic Avenue where she and Don spent the majority of their married life. They were like two peas in a pod. Don was the love of her life, her knight in shining armor. They celebrated their 69th anniversary at the Shelburne Falls Pub and Brew, formally known as the Sweetheart Restaurant, where there is a long family history of wonderful memories.
Having grown up in Shelburne Falls, Kathleen attended and graduated from Arms Academy in 1950. The 1950 yearbook described her as “spending her spare time playing piano and writing to foreign countries”. It may come as no surprise to learn that Kathleen went on to study French at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she received her B.A. in 1954. Her early teaching stints included working at Charlemont and Sanderson Academy. Her long-term teaching career began when Mohawk Trail Regional High School first opened in 1967. She taught French, Spanish and Latin at Mohawk and was known by her students as “Madame Upton”. Madame was a stickler for doing homework, and she could always be found at home in her favorite chair correcting every single student’s paper! While working, she went on to obtain her M.A. in Education from the American International College (AIC). During her teaching career she organized a variety of exciting and educational trips to France and Canada (Montreal & Quebec). After receiving her Master’s degree, she was elevated to the role of the Language Department Chair for several years before retiring from teaching in 1996.
Kathleen and Donald acquired the Sawyer News Company on Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls in 1988. It had been previously owned from 1941-1960 by Viola and William T. Patch, Kathleen’s mother and father. One of Kathleen’s favorite things to do was to order greeting cards from Gibson, Hallmark, and American Greetings, ensuring that townspeople would always have a local source for their special occasions. This made Kathleen very happy! After almost 18 years of running the Sawyer News, Donald and Kathleen both finally retired in 2006.
Throughout her teaching career and even in “retirement”, Kathleen was a dedicated community member by her commitment and involvement in a variety of local organizations. She was a member of the Eastern Star. She joined the Shelburne Falls Women’s Club in 1981 and remained a member for 45 years. She was a member of the Trinity Women (Trinity Church) and as an Episcopalian, she took her responsibilities seriously to change, wash, and iron the linen paraments for the altar depending on the church’s season. She served on and was Chairperson for the Arms Library Board of Trustees, as well as serving on the Arms Academy Scholarship Fund Trust since 1976, sitting as Chairperson from 1993 to 2022, and continuing her work as a member until 2025. Lastly, Kathleen was proud of being a poll worker/election officer for the Town of Shelburne for approximately 25 years. Kathleen was such a dedicated member of these various organizations for so many years that all who can recall, respond by saying, “It was decades of service”!
Kathleen enjoyed traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles, planting her pansies and caring for her African violets. We will miss her greatly as the matriarch of the Upton family and is remembered by all as “just a very sweet and special lady”. And, a lady she was and always will be.
The family would like to express their sincerest thanks to the staff at Regal Care (some of them were her students) and New England Hospice for their loving care.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Trinity Church, 17 Severance St. on Saturday January 24 at 11:00am.
A brief graveside service will be held (immediately after the church service) at Arms Cemetery just off Route 2 in Shelburne Falls.
The reception will be held at the Shelburne Falls Pub and Brew formally known as The Sweetheart, also on Route 2 in Shelburne Falls.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Kathleen should be sent to: 1. Arms Library: https://www.armslibrary.org/donate 2. Bridge of Flowers: https://www.bridgeofflowersmass.org/contribute
3. Judy Hoyt, Chair of Arms Academy Scholarship Fund Trust, 135 North St. Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 (Please make checks payable to: Arms Academy Scholarship Fund Trust)
For directions or to send condolences, please go to the Smith Kelleher Funeral Home website: https://www.smithkelleherfuneralhome.com/.
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