Maria L. West

Maria L. West passed away on Saturday, September 22nd in Rockford, IL surrounded by her loving family. The former Maria Frechette grew up in Sackets Harbor NY, was 56 years old and died of complications related to cancer treatment. She was the daughter of Eldon and Emelia Frechette. She is survived by her husband, three children and six grandchildren, her parents, five brothers (Vinny, Mark, Danny, Dave and Matt) and many nieces and nephews.
Maria was born in Toronto Canada in the fall of 1962. She attended Sackets schools and graduated from Immaculate Heart Central in 1980. She also graduated from Jefferson Community College and Nazareth University in Rochester NY, where she received a degree in Elementary Education and Sociology. She received her Masters from Albany State, in NY, with a degree in behavior management.
Maria had a rewarding and diverse work career. She worked as a special education teacher in New York, New Hampshire and Indiana. She opened and ran her own Nursery School ( A Sound Start ) and worked as The Parent Services Coordinator at the New York State School for the Deaf in Rome, NY. While working as a Special Education Teacher in Indiana, Maria recognized a need that was not being met when it came to educating children with Autism. Maria was instrumental in creating a program at the Brownsburg School Corp. (A suburb of Indianapolis) specifically for children with Autism called the Bridge Program. Later Maria’s skills were put to use within Brownsburg as a “Special Education Consultant” working with Teachers and Administrators to create the most effective learning environment for all of Brownsburg’s Special Needs students. Maria was a gifted educator, parent advocate and problem solver who always put the needs of her students first. She accepted people where they were and worked with them to make things better. She never saw limitations but only potential in everyone she interacted with. Maria’s most important role however was that of wife, mother and Nani, daughter and sister.
Maria was married to Rick West at Sacred Heart Church in Watertown NY in August, 1987 and then settled together in Nashua New Hampshire until Maria became pregnant with their first child, Amelia (Lebanon, Indiana). They then relocated back to New York in order to be closer to family and welcomed Amelia upon her birth to their first home in Utica, NY. Maria decided to put teaching on hold to raise their children and soon brought their second daughter Andreana into the world. Andreana introduced us to deafness, which only fed Maria’s natural desire to educate herself first so she could then educate others. During the learning process Maria came across another opportunity to enrichen our lives and soon adopted a two year old deaf boy. Tyler joined his two sisters and the journey continued. Maria saw a gap in pre-school education for the deaf, which is why she started her Nursery School, open to hearing and deaf. What a gift it was that Maria understood education, sign language and what it was like to be the mother of three little ones. This soon led the family to relocate to Rome NY and Maria accepted the position of parent coordinator at N.Y.S.S.D. Our Family and many others were positively affected by Maria’s ability to see a need and fill it. During this time period Maria and her Family were recognized as “Family of the Year” in Oneida County, NY. Rewards of this type, although an honor, is not what motivated Maria. She kept family first, always, which included being an amazing nurturing wife, mother, daughter, sister, sister in-law, daughter-in-law, aunt, God-mother as she recognized every birthday, anniversary and special moment with something heart felt. The family then moved to the west side of Indianapolis, where at first she was not looking for a job but when she enrolled her children in school, they saw that she was a Special Education teacher and Maria left that day in her shorts and t-shirt with a job offer. Amelia blessed us with three lovely and lively grandchildren Oscar (Ozzy age 11), Daisy (9) and Tula (7). Tyler has yet to find the love of his life and lives in Indianapolis. Andreanna married Lance Weldgen (Walworth, WI) and they continued to bless Maria with three beautiful granddaughters, Melody (4), Maple (2) and Luna (4 months). Maria will continue to be their Guardian Angel….always.
Maria will be missed by so many but anyone who knew Maria had their lives positively changed in some way. Maria’s selflessness had no limits. She lived a full rich life and always felt blessed. Although Maria is no longer here with us on Earth, she lives on in the minds and hearts of the lives that she has touched.
Maria was a member of St Rita’s Catholic Church in Rockford, IL.
A celebration of her life will be held October 6th from 10:00AM to 12:00PM at the “Church @ Main”, 1500 E Main Street Brownsburg. It will be a short service followed by a small reception.
In addition a funeral mass will be held October 20th at 1:00PM at Saint Andrews Catholic Church, corner of East Main and Woosley streets, Sackets Harbor NY. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society or the Autism Society of Indiana.