Nantucket, MA – Veronica J Dragon, also known as Ronnie by her Northampton friends and Bopchi by her Nantucket extended family, died peacefully on Friday, October 3rd, with family present in her home on Nantucket, MA. She had taken her last ferry boat ride off the island.
She was born in Northampton, MA, on October 16, 1930 (a date she would tell the numerous medical receptionists even before being asked). She was pre-deceased by her parents; her father, Peter Jackimczyk, and mother, Waleria Janouska Jackimczyk, both from Poland; her brother, Lt. William S. Jackimczyk, was reported MIA on December 1, 1942; her sister, Victoria Clark, and brother-in-law, William Beck Clark. Her husband of 67 years, Chuck, passed on July 12, 2023. Chuck and Veronica requested that their lives be celebrated on the same day.
Veronica attended Northampton High School, from which she graduated in 1948. She later attended Worcester City Hospital and obtained her nursing diploma in 1951. Ronnie worked at Cooley Dickinson for a short time (5 years) until marrying Charles (Chuck) Dragon on June 30, 1956. They would work together at H.A. Dragon optician for the majority of their lives, she as the greeter/receptionist and he tirelessly fashioning glasses for generations of Northampton and Hill towners.
She is survived by their four children, sons: Paul H. Dragon, along with his wife Ceil Slater of Camden, NY, Peter W. Dragon and wife Mary Ruth Burke of Vienna, VA, Charles, A. Dragon of Nantucket, MA along with his wife Susan Dragon, her daughter Martha V. Dragon, along with her husband Joseph G. Dunn of Goshen, MA, and Nantucket, MA. Her grandchildren, Alexa Rose Dragon of Fort Pierce, FL, along with her fiancé, Cris Pineda, and their daughter, Veronica’s great-granddaughter Emilia Rose Pineda-Dragon, and granddaughter Dakota Jade Dragon of Nantucket, MA. In addition, she leaves behind nieces Ellen Clark Brazauskaus, her husband Michael Brazauskau of NC, grandniece Sarah Brazauskas also of NC, and great grandniece Sloan Brazauskas, grandniece Laura Huber and husband Cole Huber, their children Emmet and Gideon, grandnephew William P Clark of Easthampton, MA, niece Debbie Dragon Gortman of Wewahitcka FL her husband Victor Gortman, Laura Dragon of Phoenix AZ, and Susan Dragon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and lastly, but not least her many, many, dogs and cats she took in or rescued and grand-dogs which she spoiled with cookies every chance she got. As an octogenarian, she adopted the iPad easily and texted daily with many and kept up with the news of Northampton.
Family and friends were everything to Veronica. She would fondly reflect on taking advantage of the dollar days offered at the former Mountain Park amusement Park; she would fill the car with the kids (Finns, Zebrowski) from the neighborhood on North St, ensuring we rode all day to get our dollar’s worth. She was a Cub Scout Den mother, a Brownie leader, and a CCD teacher of the former St. Mary’s Church of Northampton. Another favorite spot of hers was to bring the kids to visit Joan Ryan and her brood at Norwich Lake, where Joan’s children would entertain the Dragons. Veronica continued the tradition of extraordinary adventures with her grandchildren, Alexa and Dakota and their friend Katie Fox on Nantucket, usually ending up with an ice cream stop or candy purchases at Force Five. She and Chuck attended most of the girls’ swim meets and softball games on the Island, braving the chill of spring softball at Delta Fields and the hot swim meets.
Although her mobility was limited, she enjoyed her weekly trips to the grocery store(s), chauffeured by her various family members on the island, where she could often be found looking over the desserts and sweets at Stop and Shop and Bartlett Farm. Veronica enjoyed watching her favorite game shows (where she knew more contemporary answers than her younger family members) along with Dakota, Alexa, and her home health aides. She loved dearly the women who cared for her, including Marjorie Renaud, Ceon Williams, Glenna Williams, Lesha Thompson, and Janet Hudson. Veronica said she would like to thank all her “ladies” for their boundless care and love, and Alice Daniels for ensuring that she had her ladies lined up and scheduled. Vin De Baggis for his special at-home visits to offer communion, and Father John Murray. She greatly appreciated the special people who delivered her meals and the Kitty Murtagh restaurant for providing delicious meals to the infirm in Nantucket. Annette Adams, N.P., for her tireless support and care, as well as the Nantucket Cottage Hospital staff and Nantucket Fire. Ken and Jill Knutti of Main St pharmacy for always ensuring that her prescriptions were up to date.
In lieu of flowers, Veronica and Chuck would prefer donations be directed to charities of your choice. They were ardent supporters of the Food Bank of Nantucket, Catholic Charities, Greyhound Association, Operation Smile, the Southwest Indian Foundation, and Dakin Animal Rescue.
An In-House Service will be held on Friday October 17, 2025 at 10am at the Czelusniak Funeral Home, 173 North Street Northampton. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 235 North Elm Street Northampton. Please go to Czelusniakfuneralhome.com for online condolences and tribute book.
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