Amherst – Ann D. (Childs) LaSalle, 85 beloved wife of the late Edwin LaSalle for 64 years, died peacefully Saturday August 23, 2014, at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst.  Born in Northampton on April 22^nd 1929, she was the daughter of the late Herbert L. and Cecelia E. (Dragon) Childs.

Ann grew up on King Street in Northampton and attended Northampton High School. After completing school she worked at Pro Brush in Florence where she met her future husband Ed. They were married April 4^th 1949. They lived on Pomeroy Terrace in Northampton and purchased their home in Amherst in 1955.

While Ann was predominately a homemaker raising her two children, she also took in laundry and ironing from Amherst Laundromat. She later went on to become a manager at Almy’s Department Store in Hadley. After the closing of Almy’s, Ann would finish out her career as the manager of the University Store at UMass.

In their retirement Ann and Ed enjoyed traveling and loved dancing at the Gables and later at the Whale Inn. Ann also took pride working in her gardens and decorating for holidays at her Chestnut Street home.

Ann was the last survivor in a family of thirteen children. She was predeceased by Eleanor M. Childs, Ruth E. Green, Helen E. Peloquin, Herbert Childs, Robert Childs, George M. Childs, Richard L. Childs, Harry E. Childs, Donald E. Childs, John B. Childs and two infant sisters that died at birth. 

She is survived by her son David and his partner Wayne Johnson of Provincetown. She was predeceased by her daughter Linda.

The family wishes to offer special thanks to Gwen Lehan and Lesley Crouse for their continued love and support, also many thanks to the staff at Center for Extended Care.

Funeral services will be Thursday, August 28, at 10:00 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Burial will follow in North Hadley Cemetery. A calling hour will precede the service from 9-10 a.m. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.