Obituary of Miriam T. Wickham

Duxbury, MA, Oct. 2, 2017 Miriam Titus Wickham, 86, passed away on October 2, 2017 at Pat Roche Hospice Home. The family thanks the staff at Pat Roche for their kind and gentle care. Miriam was born on August 17, 1931, in Princeton, NJ to Paul and Catherine Titus. She was the oldest of three children. She was raised in the bucolic college community of Gambier, OH, home of Kenyon College. Her father was a Kenyon economics professor and her mother managed the college bookstore. Miriam cherished her memories of growing up in rural Gambier surrounded by the culture and people associated with college life. In the 1940s, the theatre department of the all men’s school would recruit local teenage girls to act in its plays. As a result, Miriam acted in a play with Paul Newman, a Kenyon student at the time. She was proud to recall that her role included a kissing scene with him! Miriam graduated from Ohio State University in 1953 with a degree in Social Work. She later attended the master’s program in Library Science at Bridgewater State University and worked for many years as a librarian at the Clift Rogers Library in Marshfield, MA. She married Kenyon student Albert P. Wickham in 1952, and they were happily married for 55 years, prior to his passing in 2007. Miriam and Al moved to Marshfield in 1959 where they raised four children. Throughout the years they lived in both Marshfield and Duxbury and were well respected in both communities for their many volunteer efforts. They werelongtime active members of First Parish Unitarian Universalist church in Duxbury. Over the years, Miriam made many wonderful friends at First Parish and the church truly became asecond family who provided her much love and support in her later years. In the 1980s, Al and Miriam founded Wickham Books. For 15 years they operated an out-of-print bookstore in Duxbury, traveled to book fairs, and helped customers find long lost beloved books. Miriam was also one of the founders ofPatchwork Press, a popular quilting newsletter. Miriam was also an avid world traveler and hosted many foreign students and visitors over the years. She also enjoyed reading and participating in book clubs, watching the Boston Celtics and walking her best friend Tashi. In her retirement, she was a resident of The Village at Duxbury where she made many close friends who were wonderful to her when her health began to decline. In 2010, she found love again with Fred Hubbard, with whom she enjoyed life until his passing in 2015. Miriam was a consistent and loving presence in the lives of her children, grandchildren, siblings and many friends. She leaves behind: Son, William P. Wickham and Mary Shaughnessy of Naples, FLand their daughters Mary Catherine, Sarah and Flannery. Son,Jeffrey C. Wickham and Carrie Kuempel of Wellesley, MA and their sons Sam and Lee. Daughter, Ann P. Wickham and Justin Marble of Acton, MA and their children, Nathan, Olivia and Corinne. Daughter, Jennifer M. Wickham and Phillip Decter of Jamaica Plain, MA and their son, Emmett. Her brother, Charles Titus and his wife Sue (McGowan). Her sister, Ann Titus-Gill predeceased her in 2010. Miriam's service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 11 at First Parish Church, 842 Tremont St, Duxbury, with lunch following the service. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to First Parish Church, or your favorite charity.