HEBRON ---- Maria Tomaszek Andrews, of Hebron, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the age of 74.
Born on June 20, 1951, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Teresa Capocci and Edward Tomaszek, Maria lived a life marked by compassion and an unwavering commitment to the people, animals, and causes she loved. Those who knew her will remember a woman whose presence could never be ignored, a force of nature who embraced life wholeheartedly and always remained true to herself.
Maria earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Southern Connecticut State University and later received a Master of Public Health in Infectious Disease Epidemiology from Yale University. Her love of science and concern for the well-being of others led to a distinguished career in public health. She worked as a health inspector in Fairfield County, Connecticut, before becoming a Public Health Administrator for the State of Connecticut. Throughout her career, Maria approached her work with integrity, determination, and a strong sense of responsibility, believing that protecting the health of others was both a privilege and a calling.
While Maria was an accomplished scientist, she was equally an artist at heart. She was an avid writer who found joy in poetry and storytelling and had an extraordinary love of music. An excellent pianist with a beautiful singing voice, Maria especially loved to sing. She had a lifelong love of folk music and jazz, treasured meaningful conversations, and delighted in the simple pleasures of a good cup of coffee, fresh seafood, and exploring the New Hampshire countryside.
Maria lived with conviction. She was fiercely independent, outspoken, and authentic. She questioned authority when she believed it was warranted, stood firmly by her principles, and advocated passionately for those she loved. Her family remembers her as someone who always spoke her mind, defended those she cared about, and encouraged others to live courageously and authentically.
Her faith was an important part of her life. Maria loved Jesus dearly, found comfort in her Christian faith, and generously shared that hope with those closest to her.
Above all else, Maria loved deeply. Her beloved husband, George, of over 40 years, was the love of her life, and the memories they created together remained among her greatest treasures. George affectionately called her “Mushmouse,” a loving nickname that reflected the tenderness and humor they shared. Maria adored her family and maintained close relationships with her parents throughout their lives, helping care for them with love and devotion. She cherished time spent with her sisters, nieces, and nephew and delighted in creating memories through family gatherings, shared meals, adventures, and simple moments together.
Maria’s compassion extended beyond people to the animals she loved so dearly. She had a special place in her heart for cats, often opening her home to elderly or sick animals that needed comfort and care. Her pets were never simply animals; they were cherished members of her family. She also found joy in hummingbirds, owls, horses, and the beauty of the natural world.
During the final years of her life, Maria formed a special bond with her caregiver, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s young daughter, Scarlett. Proudly calling herself Scarlett’s honorary grandmother, whom Scarlett affectionately knew as “Rhea,” Maria filled their days with songs, stories, laughter, and small traditions that became treasured memories.
Maria was fortunate to be surrounded by people who cared deeply for her. Her caregivers supported her with kindness and devotion, including helping her travel to family members’ homes for holidays and special occasions. Her neighbor Liz was a source of friendship and support, and the EMTs who came to her home treated her with compassion and dignity. These relationships brought comfort, companionship, and connection during her final years.
Friends remember Maria as someone with a warm heart and an adventurous spirit. She loved camping, cross-country skiing, bicycling, and discovering new places throughout New England. She could often be found sharing stories from her childhood, recounting adventures with George, offering weather updates to family and friends, or enthusiastically discussing a subject that captured her interest. Whether caring for animals, encouraging a niece, or making a child laugh with nursery rhymes, Maria gave herself wholeheartedly.
Maria is survived by her sisters, Barbara Tomaszek Templeton and her husband, Jamie Templeton; Marcia Hildebrand and her husband, Mark Hildebrand; her nieces, Wray Serna; Jenna Shepard and her husband, Justin Shepard; her nephew, Aaron Hildebrand and his wife, Morgan Via; and many extended family members and dear friends whose lives were enriched by knowing her.
Maria will be remembered for her brilliant intellect, unwavering convictions, adventurous spirit, steadfast faith, compassion for animals, love of music, and fierce love for family. She taught those who loved her the importance of standing up for what you believe, remaining true to yourself, and loving deeply. Though she will be profoundly missed, her family finds comfort in the memories she leaves behind and that she is now reunited with her beloved George, embraced by the peace she longed for and the God she faithfully loved.
A memorial service celebrating Maria’s life will be held at a later date.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.