Barbara was the daughter of the late Leon and Grace (Eddy) Shumway and a 1945 graduate of Amherst High School where she was Captain of the cheerleading squad. After her graduation she worked for the New England Telephone Company as a switchboard operator.

       On October 10, 1947 Barbara married Kenneth Jenks and they started their lives together in Belchertown before moving to Amherst in 1970. Barbara and Ken had two children,

Karen and Dennis. While focusing on being a wife and mother, Barbara worked from home as a bookkeeper for her father’s electrical company, Shumway Electrical.

      In 1957 Barbara started working at Amherst Jr. High School where over the years she was secretary to 3 principals, Bill Marden, Leo Casagrande, and John Burruto.

      In 1988, Barbara retired to spend more time with her family and extensive list of friends including long time friends, Earl and Nancy Fay and friends and neighbors Betty and Herb Holden.

Over the years Barb and Ken enjoyed spending time with their family and friends in Amherst,

Vermont, and at their beach home on Plum Island. They were always the happiest wherever their friends and family were.

       When her husband passed away in 1993 Barbara felt that retirement wasn’t for her, so she  continued her extensive years of employment by joining the Yankee Candle Company first as a seasonal employee and then a full time sales associate. During her time at Yankee Candle Barbara received numerous awards, Employee of the year, Howdy Hospitality Award and was also pictured on the back of the Yankee Candle Delivery Trucks. Barbara enjoyed her 17 years with Yankee Candle, where she met so many wonderful fellow employees who became friends and the many returning guests who remembered her beautiful smile and kindness and always looked for her during their next visit.

     In 2009, Barbara was invited to again join the Kittredge family at their new candle shop, Kringle Candle in Bernardston where she worked until she was 92 and the COVID shutdown forced her into retirement again.

      Barbara will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by the many wonderful people who’s lives she touched over her 97 years. Barbara is survived by her Daughter,  Karen Isabelle,  Daughter-in-law,  Donna Jenks, Grandchildren, Laura (Isabelle) Skowronek and husband Steve Skowronek, Mindy Isabelle and husband Lamar Newsome, Mike Isabelle, Randy Jenks and family Cristy (Jenks) Jones and family, Great Grandchildren, Jill Skowronek and partner Jeff Judge, Stephanie Skowronek and fiancé Craig Bell, Nicholas Skowronek and fiancé Hannah Griswold, Brittini Benton, Courtney-Shea Newsome and fiancé Aidan Connelly, Alexis Isabelle,    Travis Isabelle and Great Great Grandchildren, Kylee Benton and AJ Bell. Barbara also leaves her 103 yr. old friend Helen Baj of Hadley and numerous nieces and nephews.

Barbara was pre deceased by her Husband Ken(1993), Son Dennis(2018),

and Son-in-law Ken Isabelle(2023)

Barbara Jenks – The woman with the beautiful smile!

The most wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Great-Great Grandmother (GG) any family could have been blessed with.

Calling hours will be at Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst,  Sunday October 27, 2024 from 12pm-2pm.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in her name  to The Fisher Home of Amherst.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Barbara was the daughter of the late Leon and Grace (Eddy) Shumway and a 1945 graduate of Amherst High School where she was Captain of the cheerleading squad. After her graduation she worked for the New England Telephone Company as a switchboard operator.

       On October 10, 1947 Barbara married Kenneth Jenks and they started their lives together in Belchertown before moving to Amherst in 1970. Barbara and Ken had two children,

Karen and Dennis. While focusing on being a wife and mother, Barbara worked from home as a bookkeeper for her father’s electrical company, Shumway Electrical.

      In 1957 Barbara started working at Amherst Jr. High School where over the years she was secretary to 3 principals, Bill Marden, Leo Casagrande, and John Burruto.

      In 1988, Barbara retired to spend more time with her family and extensive list of friends including long time friends, Earl and Nancy Fay and friends and neighbors Betty and Herb Holden.

Over the years Barb and Ken enjoyed spending time with their family and friends in Amherst,

Vermont, and at their beach home on Plum Island. They were always the happiest wherever their friends and family were.

       When her husband passed away in 1993 Barbara felt that retirement wasn’t for her, so she  continued her extensive years of employment by joining the Yankee Candle Company first as a seasonal employee and then a full time sales associate. During her time at Yankee Candle Barbara received numerous awards, Employee of the year, Howdy Hospitality Award and was also pictured on the back of the Yankee Candle Delivery Trucks. Barbara enjoyed her 17 years with Yankee Candle, where she met so many wonderful fellow employees who became friends and the many returning guests who remembered her beautiful smile and kindness and always looked for her during their next visit.

     In 2009, Barbara was invited to again join the Kittredge family at their new candle shop, Kringle Candle in Bernardston where she worked until she was 92 and the COVID shutdown forced her into retirement again.

      Barbara will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by the many wonderful people who’s lives she touched over her 97 years. Barbara is survived by her Daughter,  Karen Isabelle,  Daughter-in-law,  Donna Jenks, Grandchildren, Laura (Isabelle) Skowronek and husband Steve Skowronek, Mindy Isabelle and husband Lamar Newsome, Mike Isabelle, Randy Jenks and family Cristy (Jenks) Jones and family, Great Grandchildren, Jill Skowronek and partner Jeff Judge, Stephanie Skowronek and fiancé Craig Bell, Nicholas Skowronek and fiancé Hannah Griswold, Brittini Benton, Courtney-Shea Newsome and fiancé Aidan Connelly, Alexis Isabelle,    Travis Isabelle and Great Great Grandchildren, Kylee Benton and AJ Bell. Barbara also leaves her 103 yr. old friend Helen Baj of Hadley and numerous nieces and nephews.

Barbara was pre deceased by her Husband Ken(1993), Son Dennis(2018),

and Son-in-law Ken Isabelle(2023)

Barbara Jenks – The woman with the beautiful smile!

The most wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Great-Great Grandmother (GG) any family could have been blessed with.

Calling hours will be at Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst,  Sunday October 27, 2024 from 12pm-2pm.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in her name  to The Fisher Home of Amherst.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Marilyn continued her education at Burbank School of Nursing in Fitchburg, Ma. She wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and chose nursing as a career. Marilyn graduated from Burbank in 1958 abd completed the licensing process to become a Registered Nurse.

Marilyn’s first nursing position was at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD in the psychiatric unit. While working at John Hopkins, she completed her Doctorate in Nursing. It was an accomplishment of which she was extremely proud.

Later in life, Marilyn made the decision to join the family business, the Amherst Auction Galleries, in Amherst. She was a familiar face at auctions, working as the bookkeeper, and enjoyed seeing old friends from the antique business.

Throughout her life Marilyn was a kind and very generous person who was always ready to help any individual in need. She always thought of other before herself. There was a special place in her heart for her four legged friends, her beloved dachshunds. Now, they will be together again.

Marilyn is survived by her partner and best friend Donald Schimke of Cocoa, FL, her son Daniel Ryan of Bradenton, FL, her brother Raymond James Murphy (Carolyn) of Sun City West, AZ, her nephew Raymond Edward Murphy of Charlotte, Vt. and her niece Nancy Axon of Gosher, CT.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Barbara Jean Koplein Elleman, of Amherst MA, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2024. Barbara was born on October 20, 1934, in Coloma, WI; daughter of Donald and Evelyn (Kissinger) Koplein. She grew up around Waupaca, WI with her siblings Charlotte and Sharon. As a child, she loved reading, playing with dolls, and being with her family on the farm. After graduating high school in Ripon, WI, she attended Wisconsin State University Oshkosh receiving her B.S. in 1956. She worked as school librarian in Port Washington, WI, and then went to the University of Denver, receiving her M.A. in Library Science in 1964. On November 14, 1970, Barbara married the love of her life, Don W. Elleman.

Barbara was a brilliant children’s librarian, book reviewer, editor, and author. She took on roles as a school and public librarian. She was a reviewer and then editor of the American Library Association’s Booklist magazine, where she founded Book Links, Connecting Books Libraries and Classrooms. While working at Marquette University, she was named Distinguished Scholar of Children’s Literature.

In 2011, she and Don moved to Amherst, MA. There, she served as trustee, advisor, and curator at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Barbara donated her thousand-plus, often-signed picture book collection to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, where her substantial reference collection about children’s literature resides in the Barbara Elleman Research Library, referred to as the BERL. In 1999, she wrote a biography of Tomie dePaola: Tomie dePaola: His Art and His Stories. Following that, she co-authored (with Russell Freedman) Holiday House: The First Sixty-Five Years (2000), and Virginia Lee Burton: A Life in Art (2002). She recently published another biography of Tomie dePaola: The Worlds of Tomie dePaola: The Art and Stories of the Legendary Artist and Author (2021), an update of her earlier biography, covering two new decades of his creativity.

Barbara was an avid traveler who criss-crossed the globe with her husband Don. They often went touring in Europe to explore the origins of many notable children’s fables and fairy tales, bringing the books that she loved so dearly to life. She was also a great fan of the arts, with regular attendance at the symphony, opera, as well as numerous shows. For a time, Barbara and Don kept an apartment in New York to readily access Broadway. More recently, in Amherst, trips to Tanglewood were a regular pastime and joy.

Barbara is survived by her sister Sharon Riemer of Oshkosh, WI; her very good friend Charlene Moran of Amherst, MA; her nieces Nancy Ocain Scrivner, Shawn Miller, Alesha Hau; and nephews Rick Ocain and Tim Ocain. Many great and great great nieces and nephews adored their Aunt Barbara.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, November 7, 2024, 5:00 p.m., at The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA 01002. The interment will be held in Brookfield, WI at a later date.

 Memorial gifts can be made in Barbara’s honor to the Barbara Elleman Research Library at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglass.com

William Stock Rathbun passed away October 6, 2024, at his home in Leverett, MA.

Bill was born on August 4, 1944, in Boston, MA. The son of the late William A. Rathbun and Yvonne (Racine) Rathbun. Raised on the south shore of Massachusetts, Bill was a gifted artist. He pursued his passion by studying at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, MA and further received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Bill painted and taught art for decades. His works are scattered all over New England and beyond. He was inspired by the majestic landscape of the Pioneer Valley. Bill found the beauty in nature that most overlook and he shared it with us all. 

There was much more to Bill’s his life than his art. He was a devoted husband, father, grandpa, family man, friend, and teacher. He loved his family and friends unconditionally and was always there with a helping hand or wisdom. A true renaissance man, Bill was a historian, a musician, a romantic, a handyman, a mechanic, and above all, a kind and gentle person. He was everything you needed him to be when you needed it. He loved working with kids, sharing his knowledge and talent and inspiring everyone to realize that there is an artist in all of us.

Bill leaves his wife Jane (O’Connor) Rathbun of 53 years. Bill and Jane met in Boston in the 1960’s, moved to the Pioneer Valley in 1978 and never left. Bill also leaves his three sons, Justin (wife Darcy) of Shutesbury, Scott (wife Lavonne) of Pelham, and Josh of Hadley. He also leaves his four cherished grandsons, William, Jack, Scotty, and James; his two brothers, John, and Chris and many nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers of please consider a donation to Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst. http://www.fisherhome.org

The Rathbun family warmly welcomes family and friends to join us in a “Celebration of Bill’s Life” on Saturday, November 2 from 11:30AM to 3:00 PM at the Inn on Boltwood, 30 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 01002.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

AMHERST, MA: Mary Elaine Kohler peacefully passed away on September 20, 2024 at the age of 87.

Some of her many interests included playing and teaching piano, flying a small plane, writing, photography, participating in the local astronomy club, singing in a church choir, leading nature walks, and caring for her many cats and dogs. She was also a member of several wildlife organizations.

She is survived by several relatives, including her two daughters, Marjorie Ann Daysal of Georgia, and Victoria Rose Burke of North Carolina.

Funeral arrangements will be made at the convenience of the family. Mary will be laid to rest near her daughter Marjorie’s residence in Georgia at a later date.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Sidney Poritz of Leverett passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on September 29th, 2024 with his beloved family at his side.

The son of Joseph and Sarah (Shapiro) Poritz, Sidney was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1938 of parents who emigrated from Lithuania in 1930. After his father died in 1944, his mother and her five children relocated to Fall River, Massachusetts in 1948.

Upon completion of his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Sidney taught sculpture and design at Skidmore College, UMASS and at the Metropolitan, Whitney, and Brooklyn art museums.

In 1985, he acquired a secluded, wooded hillside in Leverett, which he believed had once been home to Native Americans prior to the arrival of European settlers in the 18th century. His vision was to integrate designs harmoniously with the natural landscape, building homes that echoed the colonial period. From the forest, he crafted Laurel Hill—a private 180-acre mountain estate, now home to some of New England’s most magnificent residences.

Sidney, an avid tennis player and the Massachusetts State Champion of 1956, continued his game until his final days. In addition to his love of the sport, he also built 52 classic clay courts throughout New England, bringing tremendous joy to those who experienced playing whileist immersed in nature.

He served on the Leverett Planning Commission for fourteen years and was a trustee of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum in Hadley, Massachusetts.

Sidney remained active until the very end – most recently the President of Friends of the North Leverett Sawmill, a venture to rehabilitate a historic mill built in the 1770s and transform it into a living history and technology museum.

He is survived by his former wife, Janet Strauss; his children, Rachel Tierman, Aaron and David Jade; his five grandchildren, Emmanuelle, Isadora, Simone, Una and Jack; his siblings, Bernard, Lily and Dorothy as well as his niece and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Olga Zabudloff. 

A Celebration of Life will take place in early spring.

Those who wish to make a donation in his honor may provide a gift to Friends of the North Leverett Sawmill or the Yiddish Book Center

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Sidney Poritz of Leverett passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on September 29th, 2024 with his beloved family at his side.

The son of Joseph and Sarah (Shapiro) Poritz, Sidney was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1938 of parents who emigrated from Lithuania in 1930. After his father died in 1944, his mother and her five children relocated to Fall River, Massachusetts in 1948.

Upon completion of his Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Sidney taught sculpture and design at Skidmore College, UMASS and at the Metropolitan, Whitney, and Brooklyn art museums.

In 1985, he acquired a secluded, wooded hillside in Leverett, which he believed had once been home to Native Americans prior to the arrival of European settlers in the 18th century. His vision was to integrate designs harmoniously with the natural landscape, building homes that echoed the colonial period. From the forest, he crafted Laurel Hill—a private 180-acre mountain estate, now home to some of New England’s most magnificent residences.

Sidney, an avid tennis player and the Massachusetts State Champion of 1956, continued his game until his final days. In addition to his love of the sport, he also built 52 classic clay courts throughout New England, bringing tremendous joy to those who experienced playing whileist immersed in nature.

He served on the Leverett Planning Commission for fourteen years and was a trustee of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum in Hadley, Massachusetts.

Sidney remained active until the very end – most recently the President of Friends of the North Leverett Sawmill, a venture to rehabilitate a historic mill built in the 1770s and transform it into a living history and technology museum.

He is survived by his former wife, Janet Strauss; his children, Rachel, Aaron and David; his five grandchildren, Emmanuelle, Isadora, Simone, Una and Jack; his siblings, Bernard, Lily and Dorothy as well as his niece and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Olga Zabudloff. 

A Celebration of Life will take place in early spring.

Those who wish to make a donation in his honor may provide a gift to Friends of the North Leverett Sawmill or the Yiddish Book Center

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

PELHAM, MA. Alan Roy Tschetter, 77, passed away Sunday morning, September 15th, 2024 at his home in Pelham, MA after a decades long journey with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Alan was born March 5th, 1947 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. He leaves behind his daughter, Alethea, his sisters Evelyn, Lois, Renie, and Susan as well as his brother John. He is predeceased by his parents Paul and Mary, his sisters Kay and Marti, and his brothers Tom and Timmy. 

Alan grew up in Indiana and attended Purdue University. He was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. He joined the Brotherhood of the Spirit/Renaissance Community in Turners Falls towards the end of his service period. He met Alethea’s mother while still a part of that community. They both joined the Quaker Meeting in Amesbury, MA after Alethea’s birth in 1986. After his divorce, he moved to Phoenix, AZ to be closer to his sister Kay in her final years. He worked as a computer programmer there. A few years after she passed, he moved to Chicago, IL. 

Alan loved mathematics, speed chess, and a course in miracles. He was a constant source of pithy spiritual and philosophical quotes.

Alan was a committed participant in many different communities throughout his life. He moved back to Western Massachusetts in 2008 to reconnect with other former members of the Renaissance Community. Alan remained active in the Re-evaluation Counseling Communities everywhere he lived. Prior to the pandemic, Alan attended Mt. Toby Friends Meeting and midweek meeting at Woolman Hill religiously. However, in recent years, his mobility issues kept him close to home. He still drove his motorized wheelchair regularly to the Pelham Library, on “walks” down North Valley Road, and across the street to nap outside.

Alan wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered in the ocean.

He created a website as his memorial. You can find it at www.alantschetter.com.

A memorial service will also be held at Mt Toby Friends Meeting,194 Long Plain Road, Leverett, Ma. 01054 on November 9th at 1pm.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved sister, Jennifer Lynne Wilson, on August 16  ,2024. Born in Silver Spring, MD, on Sept. 28,1970, Jennifer was the cherished daughter of the late Jack Wilson Jr.  and Mary Lashway (Nuzzi), and her adored stepfather, Joseph Nuzzi, whom she loved as dearly as her father.

Jennifer had a heart of gold. She was a kind, thoughtful, and beautiful person who touched the lives of so many. Her generosity and warmth will be missed deeply by all who knew her. Preceding her in death were several aunts and uncles from her mother’s large family, her Aunt Bessie, Uncle Lee, grandma and grandpa Wilson, as well as her special great-nephew, Parker Shoemaker, who, like Jennifer, left us too soon but will always be remembered.

Jennifer is survived by her loving siblings: sisters Carla (Bob) Harnest, Catherine Blevins, Cheryl Krause, Denise Pfeuffer, Lisa (Dan) Goggins and her only brother, Michael (Rosaline “Rose”) Wilson as well as her brother-in-law Marty. She also leaves behind her nieces, Melissa (Larry “Gene”) Shoemaker, Monica and Meghan Goggins, Candace (Kendell) Corner, Amanda Portillo, Mary Wilson, Sarah (David) Parker, as well as her nephews, Jackie Tomlinson, and Michael (Tara) Wilson. Jennifer also Leaves behind several great-nieces Scarlett, Brooklyn, Jasmine, Angelina, Valerie, Grace, and Nora, and great-nephews River, Damian, Brayden, Bryce, Brendon Wilson and Brendon Corner.

In 1983, Jennifer moved to Williamsburg, MA, with her parents and worked at their family restaurant, The Woodside, until her graduation from high school. She went on to study mathematics at the University of Hartford, which led to a successful career in finance and technology. Jennifer began at Securities, Software & Consulting as a quality assurance tester, where she contributed to the development of multi-currency and average cost accounting features. She later joined Conning & Company, where she designed reporting suites for internal and external clients. At Eagle Investment Accounting, she took on sales and implementation roles eventually relocating to Zurich for a year to manage a large implementation project.

Jennifer’s career then took her to London, where she served as Managing Director for over three years. Her time abroad allowed her to travel extensively, visiting remarkable places such as South Africa, Zanzibar, Pangkor Laut Island, China, and many parts of Europe, she even had the unique experience of traveling on the Orient Express.

After returning to the United States. Jennifer pursued her passion for travel as an agent with Boundless Travel, helping others plan their dream vacations. She also worked as a sales associate at White House Black Market. Jennifer loved hosting gatherings with friends and family, cooking, game nights, and her passion for country music. She was an avid attendee of country music festivals, especially with her favorite Kenny Chesney, often enjoying backstage meet-and-greet passes and let us not forget her love of football and her favorite team the “Washington Redskins” In her leisure time, Jennifer enjoyed relaxing on the beaches of Mexico and the Dominican Republic (her happy places) Her pride and joy was her adopted dog Britby, who delighted all in showing off her stylish wardrobe. She also adored her other adoptee, Georgia, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Jennifer will be deeply missed, but her spirit, generous heart, and love will remain with us forever. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, love, and cherished memories.

A Mass of Christian Burial at St. Brigid’s Church in Amherst will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 10:00am.

Calling hours will be held at Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst on Thursday, October 3, 2024 from 4p – 7pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The V Foundation for Cancer Research at https://donate.v.org

or Tunnel to Towers Foundation at:http://t2t.org/donate

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com