Edwina Irene Addison, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2024, in Buena Vista, Va. She was born in Bourne, Massachusetts on June 1, 1938, to the late August and Mabel Castonguay.
Edwina, or Winnie, as she was affectionately known, is survived by her six children and their spouses: Jane Addison and Eugene Poplaski of Greenville, SC; Leslie Addison and James Sullivan, of North Bennington, VT; Daniel Addison and Eric Deas, of Virginia Beach, VA; Mary Boschetti and James Boschetti of Washington, MA; Edwina Addison-Vita and John Vita of Lexington, VA; and Samuel Addison and Nancy Addison of Crozet. Winnie will also be missed by her grandchildren: Robert and Patrick Powers; Christopher, Stephen, Nicholas, and Luke Johnas; David, Zachary, and Ryan Litano; Spencer LeBlanc and Kelsey Vita; Elizabeth, Henry, and Julia Addison, and several step-grandchildren. She was blessed with great-grandchildren, including Addison, Emily, Bridget, Hannah, Connor, Madeline, AnneMarie, Ashley, Isabella, Colin, Maia, Avery and Levi, and she lived to know some of the spouses of her grandchildren: Meghan, Lynn, Natalie, Suzanne, Amanda, Erin, and Kate. Winnie was pre-deceased by several brothers and sisters, and is survived by a sister-in-law, Ruth Castonguay of Laconia, NH; a brother-in-law, Nicholas Giosa of Bloomfield, CT, and several nieces and nephews.
Winnie attended Amesbury High School, where she graduated in 1956 as Salutatorian. She later attended Simmons Secretarial College for Women, and Berkshire Community College. As a lifelong homemaker, Winnie was a devout Catholic and a longtime communicant of St. Mark’s Church in Pittsfield, MA, and St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Church of the Incarnation in Charlottesville. During her life she found joy in baking, painting, canning produce, playing the piano, and especially in nurturing houseplants. She loved playing (and winning) board and card games with her friends and family, and hearing her laugh was a joy. She also led her family in assembling rosary beads and packaging supplies for missions, both local and abroad. Finally, she volunteered countless hours assisting the elderly and helping people in need. Winnie was a loving mother and grandmother to her family. A celebration of life was held at Twomey, LeBlanc and Conte Funeral Home in Newburyport, MA on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
