Edward James “Ted” Rising, 95, passed away September 25, 2022 in Amherst, surrounded by his children.  Born November 10, 1926, in Troy, New York to Mildred (Horton) Rising and James S.  Rising, both from upstate New York, Ted graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, pursued graduate study at University of Kansas, and received his doctorate In Industrial Engineering from University of Iowa. He completed his military service in the US Army Air Corp during World War II and was honorably discharged at the end of the war. He met and married Joan Troyer in Syracuse, New York shortly after his discharge from the Army. Their marriage of over 60 years was a partnership that supported a rich life of family, careers, civic engagement and political activism. Ted was Professor of Industrial Engineering at UMass/Amherst from 1960 until his retirement in May, 1989. His area of expertise was Systems Engineering in health care delivery to optimize quality and efficiency while maintaining equal concern for the time of patients and health care providers. Ted researched and consulted world-wide on this topic, receiving recognition and awards. Ted held the George Lucas Honorary Chair at the University of Birmingham, England, where he served on the faculty 1967-68, and a second honorary chair in Vienna, Austria 1981-82.

Throughout his life, Ted enjoyed outdoor adventure and suffered a severe case of wanderlust. He hiked and camped throughout the US, Great Britain, and Europe.  He nurtured a love of the outdoors and travel in his children and friends. He led a tribe of Amherst families on week-long canoe camping and skiing expeditions. Ted skied well into his 90’s. After a knee replacement at age 84, Ted confessed to allowing himself the use of a H/C parking spot at Berkshire East where he found that his new knee would perform for only three good runs if he carried his skis up from main the parking lot!  True to his professional mission, he was efficient! Ted valued his extended family, which included many not related by blood.   Surrounded by family and friends, often beside a campfire, he would be overheard remarking, “I am a rich man!”

Ted was civic minded and cared deeply for community.  His commitment took many forms and usually included an enthusiastic physical component.  He served on several Amherst town committees and councils. Ted led the North Amherst Boy Scouts on hiking, camping, canoe and skiing trips.  He played banjo for many years with the Horse Mountain Jazz Band and took special joy in playing for the annual Puffers Pond Breakfast and at local nursing homes.  From its inception, Ted was a generous supporter of the Amherst Survival Center; for more than two decades he found delight carving turkeys and serving guests at the annual Survival Center Thanksgiving dinner.  Ted traveled to Georgia to volunteer with Jimmy Carter’s Habitat for Humanity project rebuilding burned churches.  He had a passion for adding value to every moment and encouraged others to do the same.

Ted is predeceased by his wife and partner Joan Troyer Rising, his parents, his brother, Donald Rising, and his grandson Andrew Musgrave. He leaves his 3 children and their spouses, James Sinclair Rising and Krista Oesterling Rising of Amherst, Elizabeth Rising Musgrave and Alan Musgrave of Amherst, and Kathryn Rising Baldor of Westminster, MA. He leaves his grandchildren, Anthony Baldor, Jocelyn Fykes, Daniel Baldor, David Musgrave, Jessamyn and Lisa Rising and their spouses and significant others. He leaves five great-grandchildren, Layla, Lennon, Ponder, Emma and Reiter. He leaves many nieces and nephews, as well as an extended tribe of family friends.  

 A Celebration of Life for Ted will be held on Friday, November 25^th at 2:30 pm at The Women’s Club, 35 Triangle Street, Amherst Massachusetts.  All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please spend time outdoors with your family and friends, and/or make a donation to a charity of your choice, the Amherst Survival Center, or Habitat for Humanity.  Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Amherst, MA — Katherine Flora O’Connell, 54, died in an accident on October 4, 2022, while on vacation in France with her husband.

Born in Jackson, Michigan, on February 14, 1968, to Campbell and Frances Laird, Kate grew up in Radnor, Pennsylvania, the eldest of three siblings. From a young age, Kate displayed an intense eagerness to learn and excelled academically. She graduated from Conestoga High School as valedictorian and went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania as a Benjamin Franklin scholar. At Penn, she majored in English literature and art history, joined the Penn Poets Society, studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh, and was elected Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. Upon graduating summa cum laude, Kate received the additional honor of carrying the English department’s flag at the graduation ceremony because she was the top in her class of English majors.

A devoted equestrienne, Kate rode at Ashford Farm in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, in the early 1990s before she headed off to graduate school. She met her future husband, Killian, at the barn and became enamored of him during the long trail rides they took together; the two embarked on a long-distance relationship and racked up many frequent flier miles as Kate pursued her doctorate at the University of Michigan while Killian completed his psychiatry residency in Philadelphia. They got married, Kate became pregnant with their first child, and they lived briefly in Ohio before eventually settling down in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Though shy and introverted as a child and young adult, Kate bloomed in her marriage to the gregarious Killian and as a mother to Rory, Julia, and Jane. She applied the same indomitable spirit to raising a family as she did in any academic endeavor, cultivating a trio of bright and capable children, running the household effortlessly—complete with endless delicious meals—and supporting her husband so he could support his patients.

She could be found outdoors in all kinds of weather: swimming in the summer, cross-country skiing in the winter, and hiking and walking with her dogs year-round. Kate delighted in seeing her environment transform with the seasons—the emergence of lady’s slippers and peepers in the spring, the whirring of cicadas in late summer, the appearance of an unusual songbird along the bike path she walked every day, hoarfrost-covered trees in winter. In her garden, she cultivated a diverse and seemingly never-ending collection of dahlias. She loved the many charms of living in a small New England town.

Kate deeply connected with animals, from her childhood cat, Emma, to her many border collies over the years. She recognized their complexity and intelligence and enjoyed their many quirks, and through patience and perseverance trained the family’s too-smart-for-their-own-good dogs. She fell in love with horseback riding as a teenager, relishing the simplicity of communication with her horse and the routines of caring for the animal. After moving to Amherst, Kate became involved in the local horse scene—riding at the UMass community outreach program and eventually discovering Muddy Brook Farm, which would become her second home. She doted on her horse, Maddie, and spent countless hours grooming, caring for, and riding her.

From the age of three onward, Kate was regularly experimenting in the kitchen, and in her childhood she tried—and quickly excelled at—baking every kind of dessert imaginable, from the humblest oatmeal cookie to the loftiest chocolate soufflé. Throughout Kate’s life, her exquisite taste and drive for perfection resulted in her revamping existing recipes as well as inventing her own. Her stained cookbooks are peppered with neatly handwritten notes: alternate toppings, additions of brandy or lemon zest, different baking times or oven temperatures. Everyone knew about her cooking expertise, and many sought her advice or begged her for the recipe of a particularly tasty dish they’d had the good fortune of trying. Her cooking was so popular that arguments could erupt when there wasn’t enough of her food to go around! Holidays prompted a spectacular display of her abilities; she would spend days shopping for and preparing an impressive and well-balanced array of dishes. A locavore before it was fashionable, Kate reveled in finding and using high-quality local ingredients. And she poured the love she felt for her family into her cooking.

Throughout her life, Kate was an avid reader and learner. She applied her intelligence to everything she did and was constantly expanding her understanding of the world. She took pleasure in reading a wide variety of books, listening to podcasts and radio programs, going to art museums, and solving crossword puzzles; her most recent obsession was the New York Times Spelling Bee.

Kate is survived by her husband of 28 years, Killian O’Connell; her son, Rory O’Connell; her two daughters, Julia and Jane O’Connell; her parents, Frances and Campbell Laird; her sister, Lucy Laird; her brother, Andrew Laird; her nieces and nephew; her horse, Maddie; and her border collies, Annie and Geordie. Kate’s life will be celebrated on Friday, October 28, at 1 p.m. at South Church Amherst. Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to The Nature Conservancy, Kestrel Land Trust, and MASSPIRG. Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Amherst, MA — Katherine Flora O’Connell, 54, died in an accident on October 4, 2022, while on vacation in France with her husband.

Born in Jackson, Michigan, on February 14, 1968, to Campbell and Frances Laird, Kate grew up in Radnor, Pennsylvania, the eldest of three siblings. From a young age, Kate displayed an intense eagerness to learn and excelled academically. She graduated from Conestoga High School as valedictorian and went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania as a Benjamin Franklin scholar. At Penn, she majored in English literature and art history, joined the Penn Poets Society, studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh, and was elected Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. Upon graduating summa cum laude, Kate received the additional honor of carrying the English department’s flag at the graduation ceremony because she was the top in her class of English majors.

A devoted equestrienne, Kate rode at Ashford Farm in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, in the early 1990s before she headed off to graduate school. She met her future husband, Killian, at the barn and became enamored of him during the long trail rides they took together; the two embarked on a long-distance relationship and racked up many frequent flier miles as Kate pursued her doctorate at the University of Michigan while Killian completed his psychiatry residency in Philadelphia. They got married, Kate became pregnant with their first child, and they lived briefly in Ohio before eventually settling down in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Though shy and introverted as a child and young adult, Kate bloomed in her marriage to the gregarious Killian and as a mother to Rory, Julia, and Jane. She applied the same indomitable spirit to raising a family as she did in any academic endeavor, cultivating a trio of bright and capable children, running the household effortlessly—complete with endless delicious meals—and supporting her husband so he could support his patients.

She could be found outdoors in all kinds of weather: swimming in the summer, cross-country skiing in the winter, and hiking and walking with her dogs year-round. Kate delighted in seeing her environment transform with the seasons—the emergence of lady’s slippers and peepers in the spring, the whirring of cicadas in late summer, the appearance of an unusual songbird along the bike path she walked every day, hoarfrost-covered trees in winter. In her garden, she cultivated a diverse and seemingly never-ending collection of dahlias. She loved the many charms of living in a small New England town.

Kate deeply connected with animals, from her childhood cat, Emma, to her many border collies over the years. She recognized their complexity and intelligence and enjoyed their many quirks, and through patience and perseverance trained the family’s too-smart-for-their-own-good dogs. She fell in love with horseback riding as a teenager, relishing the simplicity of communication with her horse and the routines of caring for the animal. After moving to Amherst, Kate became involved in the local horse scene—riding at the UMass community outreach program and eventually discovering Muddy Brook Farm, which would become her second home. She doted on her horse, Maddie, and spent countless hours grooming, caring for, and riding her.

From the age of three onward, Kate was regularly experimenting in the kitchen, and in her childhood she tried—and quickly excelled at—baking every kind of dessert imaginable, from the humblest oatmeal cookie to the loftiest chocolate soufflé. Throughout Kate’s life, her exquisite taste and drive for perfection resulted in her revamping existing recipes as well as inventing her own. Her stained cookbooks are peppered with neatly handwritten notes: alternate toppings, additions of brandy or lemon zest, different baking times or oven temperatures. Everyone knew about her cooking expertise, and many sought her advice or begged her for the recipe of a particularly tasty dish they’d had the good fortune of trying. Her cooking was so popular that arguments could erupt when there wasn’t enough of her food to go around! Holidays prompted a spectacular display of her abilities; she would spend days shopping for and preparing an impressive and well-balanced array of dishes. A locavore before it was fashionable, Kate reveled in finding and using high-quality local ingredients. And she poured the love she felt for her family into her cooking.

Throughout her life, Kate was an avid reader and learner. She applied her intelligence to everything she did and was constantly expanding her understanding of the world. She took pleasure in reading a wide variety of books, listening to podcasts and radio programs, going to art museums, and solving crossword puzzles; her most recent obsession was the New York Times Spelling Bee.

Kate is survived by her husband of 28 years, Killian O’Connell; her son, Rory O’Connell; her two daughters, Julia and Jane O’Connell; her parents, Frances and Campbell Laird; her sister, Lucy Laird; her brother, Andrew Laird; her nieces and nephew; her horse, Maddie; and her border collies, Annie and Geordie. Kate’s life will be celebrated on Friday, October 28, at 1 p.m. at South Church Amherst. Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to The Nature Conservancy, Kestrel Land Trust, and MASSPIRG. Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Marilyn J Noonan–Hanks, At a young age of 90, Lynn was sharp as a tack.  She passed away peacefully while asleep in her home of 72 years.  Born and raised in Northampton with her father Elmer “Pat” Noonan, mother Helen Holloran Noonan, brothers William “Bill” and John “Jack” Noonan of Florence.  Lynn married William Hanks of Pelham and had four children; Susan Lynch, Richard Hanks, Cheryl Rhodes, and Helen Hanks.  Lynn loved to cook big meals for holidays and special occasions to bring her family together.  She loved the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots but most of all she loved her Irish heritage.

The family would like to thank Dr. Bruce Goderez for the many years of kindness and Father John Smegal. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:AM Monaday Oct. 24, at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will follow in East Leverett Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to St Brigid’s Church in Amherst MA. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Richard A. Fuller, 71, of Belchertown, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 14th after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Just as he dealt with all experiences in life, Dad managed his illness with humor right up until the very end. On his final day, he was surrounded by care and love from his daughters, brother, and sister-in-law.

Born in Northampton, MA to Frederick H. and Jeanne P. (Russell) Fuller, Dad spent his childhood growing up in Pelham and Amherst. He graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1969 with awards in carpentry.

Dad had a strong work ethic that started in his early teenage years. One of his first jobs after graduating from high school was at Gibson/Paige’s Chevrolet in Amherst. He later worked construction for Brown & Southwick, Roberts Builders, and did custodial work at Hampshire College and other local businesses. The job that gave him the most satisfaction was as Maintenance Director of the Amherst Police Department, a job he performed for 22 years until his retirement in 2015.

Dad loved his family fiercely and was loyal to his friends. He was one who helped friends and family without fanfare, which is the way he wanted it to be. He supported several charities over the years, never missing a month. Even weeks before he died, he still made sure his monthly donations were mailed. Dad had a hard exterior and was rough around the edges, but he had a big heart and compassion for others.

Dad is survived by his daughters Jennifer Fuller and fiance Chris Lavalley of Easthampton, Kathryn and husband Jonathan Dias of Greenfield, his brother Stephen and wife Sandi Fuller of Belchertown, niece Ashley and husband Nick Guida of Nashua, NH, and grandchildren Riley Fortin, Colby Fortin, Madison Fortin, and Grace Dias. Dad also leaves his dear friends William Dunn, John Chudzik, Michael Kent, and Michael Sullivan, all of whom spent time with him in his final days. Those by whom Dad is predeceased include his parents, his sister Lynne Anne Fuller, and his baby granddaughter Emma Dias.

Our family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Baystate VNA & Hospice for their care and support this last month, especially to his nurse Rebecca for showing great compassion and humor. Dad was also very appreciative and thought highly of his infusion nurses, Tanya and Dianna, at the D’Amour Cancer Center. Our family also wants to thank Dad’s friends, former co-workers, and extended family for showing Dad love, sharing humorous (and sometimes shocking) stories, and most of all, sharing laughs in his final days.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, October 20th from 5-7 pm at Douglass Funeral Home, Amherst.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, October 22nd from 1-3 pm at the Amherst Brewing Taproom inside The Hangar Pub & Grill on University Drive, Amherst. Our family asks that you bring your best stories to share with us so we can take notes and laugh at all of Dad’s wild adventures.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to one of the following charities that Dad loved and supported:  Empty Arms Bereavement Support, 14 Pine Street Rm 2B, Florence, MA 01062 or Dakin Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Barbara Ekstrom, 86, of Wilbraham passed away peacefully on Thursday October 6^th, in the loving presence of her family.  She was born on December 6^th, 1935 in Somerville Massachusetts, the daughter of immigrant parents from Sweden.

Barbara suffered from Alzheimer’s in her later years and was lovingly cared for by her daughter Marianne, allowing her to remain home to enjoy her favorite things  and spend time with family and friends.

Barbara was a straight A student at Somerville High School and attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  She married Dr. John Moner, a marriage that produced three children, all raised in Amherst.  The family spent a year in Denmark and a year in San Diego on sabbatical.

She completed a master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts in Audiology, and worked at Monson Rehabilitation and Hogan Regional Center for many years.   She enjoyed being with friends, traveling and spending time with her grandchildren. They have fond memories of trips to Lynch Park, Salisbury beach, Topsfield fair, nature walks at the Audubon Society, homemade spaghetti, and Swedish cookies.

She is survived by her children, Christopher Moner of Georgetown, Curtis Moner of New York, Marianne Moner of Wilbraham Massachusetts, grandchildren John Moner of Sommerville, and Jensena Moner of Boston and her best friend to this day Ruth Strassner of San Francisco, California.   

Visiting hours will be held 10-11 at Douglass Funeral Home on Thursday October 13^th with a service following. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

It is with sadness we announce the passing of our mother, Claire L. Yezierski, 93 on October 2, 2022. She was born August 24, 1929 in Lynn Massachusetts. She moved to Hadley as a teenager where she met and married the love of her life Jerome (Herman) Yezierski. They were married for 65 years and raised 4 children. Claire was active in Hadley Mothers Club for 50 years and also served as president for 3 terms. She was a member of the Saint John’s Guild for many years. Claire was a parishioner of Most Holy Redeemer were she sang in the choir for many years and served as a Eucharist minister. She leaves her son, Jerome R. Yezierski and his wife Donna of Hadley, daughter Maureen Waskiewicz of Hadley, and daughter Joanne Thornton and her husband Paul of Belchertown, 8 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren as well as her 2 brothers Kenneth Kushi (wife Carol) of Sunderland, and Karl Kushi (wife Joanie) of Southampton, and many nieces and nephews. Claire was predeceased by her husband Jerome (Herman) Yezierski, her daughter Michaeline Yezierski and son-in-law Stephen Waskiewicz. Her sisters Shirley Lebaron, Sally Aldrich. Her brothers Frank Reed, John Reed, James Reed and Ernest (Dewey) Reed. In lieu of flowers donations may be given to Hadley Mothers Club, P.O. Box 672, Hadley Ma. 01035 Funeral services will be Fri Oct. 7^th, at 10:00 AM at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, with burial following in North Hadley Cemetery. A calling hour will precede the service from 9 – 10AM. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

It is with sadness we announce the passing of our mother, Claire L. Yezierski, 93 on October 2,
2022. She was born August 24, 1929 in Lynn Massachusetts. She moved to Hadley as a
teenager where she met and married the love of her life Jerome (Herman) Yezierski. They were
married for 65 years and raised 4 children. Claire was active in Hadley Mothers Club for 50
years and also served as president for 3 terms. She was a member of the Saint John’s Guild for
many years. Claire was a parishioner of Most Holy Redeemer were she sang in the choir for
many years and served as a Eucharist minister.
She leaves her son, Jerome R. Yezierski and his wife Donna of Hadley, daughter Maureen
Waskiewicz of Hadley, and daughter Joanne Thornton and her husband Paul of Belchertown, 8
grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren. Her 2 brothers Kenneth
Kushi (wife Carol) of Sunderland, and Karl Kushi (wife Joanie) of Southampton, and many
nieces and nephews.
Claire was predeceased by her husband Jerome (Herman) Yezierski, her daughter Michaeline
Yezierski and son-in-law Stephen Waskiewicz. Her sisters Shirley Lebaron, Sally Aldrich. Her
brothers Frank Reed, John Reed, James Reed and Ernest (Dewey) Reed.
In lieu of flowers donations may be given to Hadley Mothers Club, P.O. Box 672, Hadley Ma.
01035

Northampton, MA — Gloria P. Ferber, Ph.D., passed away peacefully on August 3, 2022, at the age of 84, with loved ones by her side. Cherished by her family and friends, Gloria enriched the lives of all who knew her and will be long remembered with love.

Gloria was born on May 11, 1938, in Bronx, NY, the daughter of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, the late Meyer Pearlman and Lillian (Alpert) Pearlman. She liked to quip that “you can take the girl out of the Bronx, but you can’t take the Bronx out of the girl.” A voracious reader with a passion for the arts, Gloria graduated from the High School of Music and Art and went on to earn a B.A. in fine arts in 1959 from the City College of New York, where she developed her talent as a painter.

In 1957, Gloria met the love of her life, the late Dr. Peter H. Ferber, when both were working as counselors at a summer camp for underprivileged youth. Two years later, they embarked upon a 54-year marriage, eventually settling in Rockland County, NY, where they raised their three children in a restored 19th century farmhouse. Gloria did projects with her children, became an accomplished potter and gourmet cook, cultivated gardens and friendships, and filled the house with the art treasures she and Peter loved to collect.

Aware of children struggling in the local school system and wanting to help, Gloria returned to graduate school to earn a master’s degree in special education from Bank Street College of Education in 1975. Gloria became well known in the community as a learning disabilities specialist. In 1977, Gloria and Peter co-founded the Center for Learning and Development (CLD) in New City, NY, a pioneering multidisciplinary center that provided integrated services for children with learning disabilities, which Gloria ran until 1989.

In 1988, at the age of 50, Gloria earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, completed a re-specialization program in clinical psychology in 1990, and launched the second chapter of her career as a psychologist. Until her retirement in 2006, Gloria ran a successful clinical practice providing psychotherapy, comprehensive psychological and educational assessments, and consultation. She presented at conferences, led local professional associations, and taught and supervised graduate students as a faculty member of Bank Street College of Education. Over the course of her career, Gloria helped hundreds of children, teens, and adults develop the emotional resilience and social and academic skills they needed to thrive.

Gloria pursued her lifelong passion for the arts and culture with equal enthusiasm. She loved to frequent museums, craft fairs, theater, opera, concerts, and dance performances. A food connoisseur, Gloria delighted in sampling diverse cuisines on the local restaurant scene, as well as treating friends and family to the gourmet meals she cooked at home. She loved to travel with Peter, whether to a summer cottage on Martha’s Vineyard or to international destinations such as France, Italy, Turkey, and China. When Gloria retired and moved to Massachusetts in 2006, she took up painting again, creating landscape paintings that captured the natural beauty of her local surroundings.

A woman of impressive intellect, professional accomplishment, and artistic talent, what endeared Gloria to so many was her warmth, sensitivity, and kindness, her sense of humor and joie de vivre, and her gentle, loving ways. These never flagged during her long battle with Alzheimer’s, a challenge she handled with characteristic strength and grace.

Gloria was predeceased by her beloved husband Peter. Left with loving memories are her children Judy Ferber, Dan Ferber, and Ben Ferber (Aimee D’Onofrio), grandson Oliver, sister Ruth Sherman (Bill Sherman), and dear extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.

A service was held at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst, MA on August 10. A celebration of life will be held on Monday, October 10 at 12 noon in the Paradise Room at the Smith College Conference Center at 49 College Lane, Northampton, MA. To share a remembrance or offer a condolence, please visit Douglass Funeral Service at douglassfuneral.com. Contributions may be made in Gloria’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association or a progressive charity of your choice.

Eleanor (Romaniello) Kachites

November 20,1921-August 24, 2022

Eleanor “Ellie” (Romaniello) Kachites, after 100 years’ journey running the good race, was called into God’s loving embrace on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was peaceful, humble, and considerate to the end.

The youngest in a family of 13 children, Ellie was born November 20, 1921 in Copiague, NY to Theresa (Mazzotti), a homemaker, and Gerardo Romaniello, a steamfitter on the Long Island Railway. Growing up during the depression, food and warm blankets were sometimes scarce. Throughout her many continuing hardships in life, Ellie remained filled with hope, modesty, and care for others. She left school at 9th grade to help support her family by working in a sewing factory. She later worked from home as a much-beloved seamstress, sewing or altering many dresses for brides, bridesmaids and flower girls. Her door was always open, the coffee pot always on, and she was always welcoming to her many adoring customers, neighbors, and friends, (from whom she received innumerable Christmas cards every year).  For the last 19 years of her life, she lived with her daughter Donna and family in Amherst MA, where she was a constant source of unconditional love, good spirits, and laughter to the entire household, as well as to friends new and old, ranging in age from 20s to 90s.

She was very proud to have reached 100 years old this past November.  When she needed some help, or asked for a special treat, she would sometimes say, “I can have that because I’m a hundred!”  When she would say something mysteriously wise, or when she was struggling with pain, she would sometimes say “When you are 100, then you’ll understand.”

Ellie is survived by her daughters Carol Meittinis, Janice Stevenson, and Donna Kachites McCallum, as well as her son-in-law, Andrew McCallum, her grandchildren Theo and Elle McCallum, Nicky (and Stephanie) and Jimmy Meittinis, and her great-grandchildren, Mathew and Nicholas Meittinis, Natalie and Tyler McGowan and her grand-son-in-law Steven McGowan, and also numerous nieces, nephews and friends who loved her dearly and with whom she stayed in touch all her life. Those by whom Ellie is predeceased include her husband Dimitrios “Jimmy” Kachites, her granddaughter Dina (Meittinis) McGown, her sons-in-law Louis Meittinis and Wally Stevenson, and all twelve of her dear sisters and brothers.

Visitation will be held at D’Andrea Bros. Funeral Home at 99 Oak St, Copiague, NY on Friday October 14, 2022 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 1 Molloy Street, Copiague, NY, followed by burial at Saint Charles Cemetery, 2015 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Experience Camps, https://experiencecamps.org, a national, no-cost program for grieving children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver, or to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, https://www.mskcc.org.