Merle Weber

Merle (Amadon) Weber, 97 of Gardner, died January 6, 2026, at the Gardner Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Gardner. She was born in Gardner on September 12, 1928, the daughter of the late Wesley M. Amadon and the late Martha I. (Leschner) Amadon.

Merle's early career included roles as a house cleaner, movie theater employee, and hair salon washer, before moving to Boston to work as a food server at a Howard Johnson’s restaurant. She was then hired by her future husband to be a black-and-white photographic print composer and developer. Mid-life, Merle successfully co-founded a business with her sister, Betty, leveraging her creative skills to sell unique, one-of-a-kind t-shirts and sweatshirts at flea markets. She was an avid and adventurous traveler, taking numerous trips to European countries with her sister Ginger, and driving across the U.S. three times in an R.V. with her sister Betty.

Merle cherished the time spent with her grandson, David, especially picking him up from elementary school every Wednesday for an afternoon of board and card games. She was also a loving caretaker for her granddogs when the family was out of town.

Merle frequently met her sisters to play Scrabble, and continued to play the card game Quiddler with her family until the end of her life.

She leaves her daughter, Sara Weber, and Sara’s husband, Dan Ottenheimer, a grandson, David Ottenheimer, a sister, Betty A. O'Brien, and one brother, John L. Amadon of Pennsylvania. She is predeceased by her husband Oscar Weber, and by three brothers, Richard G. Amadon, who died in the Korean War, Wesley M. Amadon Jr., Philip H. Amadon, and by one sister, Virginia M. Conti.

There will be a calling hour for Merle on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Mack Funeral Home, 105 Central Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Her burial will be private.