Harriet Hayes Buckingham, 84, of Natick died unexpectedly Monday January 23, 2012 at the Metro West Medical Center in Natick.
She was the beloved wife for 49 years of the late Bruce S Buckingham who died in 2001.
Born in Natick and a lifelong resident, she was the daughter of the late Olin and Sarah (Gammon) Hayes.
Mrs. Buckingham was an accomplished musician throughout her life playing the piano, organ and singing.
She was an active member of the Natick Community; a trustee of the Morse Institute Library in Natick, an active member of the Natick Rotary Club, a trustee of Dell Park Cemetery, a board Member of the Natick Community Farm, a board Member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Natick, and a volunteer for the Natick Open Door program. In 2002, Harriet was selected as Natick’s Senior Woman of the Year.
Harriet was known for her warm, kind, loyal and generous spirit, her smile, her laugh, and her willingness to help anyone in need.
She loved the town of Natick, its residents, and the many organizations in which she was involved.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews; Laura Hayes Gobron and her husband Charles of Natick, Janet Lindsay Hayes Simon and her husband David of Paradise Valley AZ, William Hayes and his wife Jackie Sanders Hayes of NYC, Richard Lang, John Lang, Donald Lang, Rebecca Lang, all of Alfred NY, sisters-in-law Barbara Hayes of Natick and Jean Lang of Alfred NY, and is also survived by many grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.
She was the sister of the late Olin Hayes of Natick.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Harriet’s Life on Saturday January 28, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. in the First Congregational Church, 2 East Central St. (Rt. 135) Natick. The Reverend Victoria Alford Guest will officiate. Visiting hours are Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. in the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, at Natick Common, Natick.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in her name to the Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St. Natick, MA 01760 or to the Natick Community Organic Farm, 117 Elliot St. Natick, MA 01760.