Pelham-   Howard E. Jerome, 87, formerly of Daniel Shays Highway in Pelham, died Thursday, October 31^st at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst after of a period of declining health.  He was born in Hardwick Vermont in 1926, the son of the late Harry and Winona Jerome.  He was educated at HardwickAcademy, serving as his class President in his graduation year.  Following his graduation in 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Western Pacific Theater of operations until his discharge in November of 1946.  Howard was awarded the Expert Infantry Badge, Army of Occupation Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct medal and WWII victory medal for his service in the war.

He relocated to western Massachusetts and married his childhood companion, Blanche M. Brochu, in June of 1956.  They settled in Amherst and later in Pelham.  He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service for many years and later worked for Kaiser Permanente of Amherst.  Howard was a lifelong lover of the outdoors, loved hunting and golfing and was an avid Red Sox Fan from a very young age.  He had dreamed of his beloved Red Sox winning the World Series on their home turf, and he left this world very shortly after this event. 

Howard was well known in the community and will be sadly missed by the family and friends that he leaves behind.  He is survived by his seven children Sue Jerome and her husband Mark Weisman of Windham Maine, James Jerome of Pelham , Michael Jerome and his wife Becky of Shutesbury, William Jerome of Miller Falls, John Jerome of Pelham, Thomas Jerome of Pelham, and Carol Breen and her husband Andy of Whately.  He is also survived by five grandchildren and two great granddaughters; William Jerome Jr. and his wife Alison of Wrentham, and their daughter Violet, Cassandra Jerome of South Deerfield and her daughter Angelina Egland, Cade Jerome of Southampton, Ben Weisman of Boulder CO, and Cameron Jerome of Amherst.  He also leaves behind his beloved sister Muriel Houghton and her children LeRoy and his wife Sylvia, and her son Richard, all of St. Johnsbury VT, as well as his brother Bernard’s children; Kathy, Kelly and Kerry and his sister Helen’s daughter, Linda.

Howard is predeceased by his loving wife of 49 years, Blanche Jerome, who passed away in May of 2005.  The family will be holding a private funeral service and burial.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Howard’s name to the Dakin Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, SpringfieldMass., 01101. The family invites friends to visit www.douglassfuneral.com to sign the memorial guestbook or share memories of Howard.

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