WESTBOROUGH - Mary Jean (M.J.) Hayes Ashton, adored mother and grandmother, died February 18, 2010 in Westborough at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born December 18, 1932 to William and Miriam Hayes in Brooklyn, New York. She is survived by daughter Sarah Ashton-Bloomfield of Berkeley, CA, daughter Kim and Bob Whalen of Hanover, NH, son Bob and Deb Ashton of Hanover, NH, daughter Katherine Ashton-Ly of Madison, WI, daughter Hope and Scott Langston of Janesville, WI, son Skip and Margy Ashton of Westborough, MA, her sister Helen Hayes Driscoll of Billings MT, her dear friend Bill Power of Westborough, MA. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren: Leslie, Noah and Nathan Bloomfield, Matthew and Katie Whalen, Nathaniel, Alice, Miriam, Grace, Eric and Paul Ashton, Caitlin Ashton-Ly, Andrew, Katherine and Alison Langston, and Austin, William, Jonathan and Mary Beth Ashton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Augustus Trask Ashton I I.
Raised in New York City, MJ was an avid pianist and equestrian. She spent her summers in Montana where she grew to love the outdoors. In the 1940's she attended Camp Jeanne d'Arc where she met her future husband Gus Ashton.
MJ graduated from Sacred Heart School and Manhattanville College. After raising her children, she received a Master's Degree from Boston University School of Social Work. A resident of Westborough for more than forty years, MJ was President of the League of Women Voters, and served on the boards of YWCA, The Bridge, The Westborough Human Rights Council, the Westborough Planning Board and the Open Space Committee. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MJ had a private practice and worked for Community Healthlink in Worcester, MA until her retirement in 1997.
Friends may call at Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough, on Friday February 26, 2010 from 4-7 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday February 27, 2010 at 11 AM at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough, MA. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to UMASS Memorial Hospice 650 Lincoln St. Worcester, MA 01605 or the Alzheimer's Association 311 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA 02472