Dr. Miriam Mae Kuusisto Wilton of Edgartown and formerly of Wellesley died on Oct. 4. She was 95.

She found joy in many things, including her Finnish heritage, intellectual pursuits, hard work, music, the seashore, nisu, sisu, a good laugh and, most of all, her family. She was a woman of beauty, intelligence, kindness. She brought joy with her wherever she went

Miriam was born on Nov. 15, 1926 in Minneapolis to Finnish parents, Siiri and Antti Kuusisto, a Lutheran minister. She had one older brother, Allan. They moved east as Miriam’s father built parishes in Lanesville and Peabody, at which Miriam played the piano. Allan served during World War II and Miriam and her mother contributed to the war effort by working at the Sylvania factory, where Miriam was named Miss Sylvania.

She and her brother did what so many children of immigrants did; overachieved and worked hard. She studied liberal arts, piano, pipe organ and psychology, and was awarded two master’s degrees. She ultimately earned her PhD in psychology in the early 1960s at Boston University, where she was named Miss May Hall.

She then embarked on a career of more than 30 years as a professor at Framingham State College. She was instrumental in creating the first-ever psychology department and major within the Massachusetts state college system. It soon became the most popular and sought-after major at the college.

Simultaneously, she conducted a considerable amount of clinical work at HRI Hospital in Brookline and Fuller Hospital in Attleboro, among others. She managed the choir at churches and temples. She was included in the Who’s Who of American Women.

She married Richard Rhodes Wilton in 1949 and they had three children: Marilyn Christine, born in 1950; Richard Thomas, born in 1957; and Melissa Miriam, born in 1962.

Miriam was a remarkably talented and lovely woman to whom many students, friends, patients, colleagues or family are grateful. Her children and grandson enjoyed young lives filled with intelligence, music, the fine arts, beauty, the seashore, comfort, humor and love — all because of her considerable efforts and singular character.

Those saddened by her death but grateful for a life spent with her include her daughter Marilyn Wilton Hopkins and son in law Thomas C. Hopkins of Vineyard Haven; her son Richard T. Wilton II of Edgartown; her daughter Melissa Miriam Wilton and son in law Martin L. Leonard of Holliston; and her grandson, granddaughter in law and great-granddaughters Leif D. Hopkins, Lea Cardona Hopkins, Ligaia Hopkins and Lanna Sage Hopkins of Bangkok, Thailand.

Her family is grateful to the medical staff at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, particularly in the neurology department, who treated Miriam with kindness, care and respect.

Arrangements are being handled by Chapman Funerals & Cremations in Oak Bluffs.

Memorial donations can be made to the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy street, Hancock, MI 49930 and at finlandia-donation.paperform.co; or to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Development office, 116 Huntington avenue, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02116,