NATICK: Merydel Lou Westfield, age 63, a longtime active contributor to the Natick Soccer Club, died peacefully at her Natick home on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.
Born in Jackson, MO, on February 10, 1950, she was raised and educated in Ann Arbor, MI, prior to moving to New Jersey. Merydel was a graduate of Montclair High School and continued her education at Boston University. While earning her bachelor’s degree in history and sociology she enjoyed the honor of being BU’s head cheerleader.
Merydel was employed as a child social worker in Boston and Cambridge prior to starting a practice in Marlborough with a friend. After several years of working with youth in the area, she gave up her part of the practice to stay at home with her son. Noting that there was no soccer program for children in her son’s age group to join, Merydel set about to change the situation and started the Pee Wee Soccer program at the Natick Soccer Club. At this time it referred to as Kinderkicks. She went on to coach several teams for players between the ages of 6 and 14, among them the Greater Boston Bolts and Charles River United. After her coaching days she continued her involvement with the Natick Soccer Club as a referee for 18 years.
Employed as an office manager at various area businesses in the course of the past 25 years, Merydel had previously devoted much time to the campaign to elect Barney Frank at the outset of his career in the House. She was a dedicated Stephen Minister and fond of bible study. A member of the MA Audubon Society, she’d walk for miles birding and had at one time been involved in bird tracking with the WW Federation. At times when her illness impeded walking, she would sit and watch the commotion around the many birdfeeders in her yard. Merydel loved jaunts to the North Shore and the White Mountains, but more so enjoyed the company of her grandchildren, particularly Chloe whom she watched almost daily.
She is survived by her hubby of 26 years, Timothy J. Slamin; her son, Brandon J. Westfield and his wife Jessica of Hopedale; her adored grandchildren, Chloe, Ayden, and Noah; a brother Bryan Westfield and his wife Elaine of MI; her sister, Sharleen Westfield of CO; two nieces, Heather Lamb and Lara McDermott; and her close friend, Robin K. Walker of Framingham.
Her funeral will be held in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Natick, on Tuesday, Mar. 26th at 12:00p.m. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family on Tuesday morning beginning at 10:00.
Donations may be made in Merydel’s memory to the Mass Audubon Society, Development Office, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773, or Dana Farber Survivorship Clinic, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02446.