SAMUEL H. CARTER, JR.

AMHERST—Samuel H. Carter, Jr., 87, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2012 at the Center for Extended Care with family by his side. Sam and his wife Betty moved to Amherst from New York in 1999 to live near their son Tim and niece Kristen and their families. 

A dapper Southern gentleman, Sam charmed everyone he met with his handsome looks, slow drawl, and beautiful baritone voice. He was born November 7, 1925 near Chattanooga, TN, and was close to his brother Lee and sister Anne. After graduating from the McCallie School, he joined the U.S. Army in 1944 and served in war zones in Europe. Sam was honorably discharged in 1946, and then earned a B.A. in Music from the College of Music in Cincinnati, OH.

Sam moved to New York City, and worked for Columbia Records as a music editor. In 1955, he left for Germany to pursue opportunities in opera. There he met Betty Golden, whom he married several years later. They raised their wonderful sons Bennett and Timothy in Englewood, NJ and Rye, NY.

Sam appeared on television as a founding member of Mitch Miller and his Gang, and toured Japan with the group in 1965. He earned a Master’s degree in Education and taught music in NY schools. He returned to CBS Masterworks as a producer, and won the Grammy award as producer of the Best Classical Album in 1983 for Glenn Gould’s recording of Bach’s The Goldberg Variations. Sam also had a modeling career and enjoyed performing in musical theatre.

The greatest joy of Sam’s life was his 53-year marriage to his beloved Betty Ann, who died just three months ago. Sam is survived by his sons, Bennett and Timothy, of whom he was so proud; Tim’s wife, Jennifer Murray; in-laws Edna and James Murphy and James and Anne Golden; nieces Kristen Golden and wife Barbara Findlen, Joanne (Golden) and husband John Quinn, Edna Murphy and husband David Howarth, Madeleine Murphy and husband Scott Bullerwell; nephews Roy, Rex, and Reed Carter, and Stephen Golden and wife Beth; grandchildren Dylan, Max, and Eliza; 13 grandnieces/nephews; and lifelong friends Chet and Vera Kalm, and Patsy McCarthy. The family would like to thank Mariana Luz, as well as the staff at CECA, for their loving care and devotion to Sam. 

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 31, at 11:30 a.m. at Grace Church, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Virginia S. Ricci

AMHERST, Virginia S. Ricci, 88, of South Amherst died December 20, 2012, at Linda Manor Extended Care Facility, Leeds.

She was born in Providence Rhode Island to David and Emma (nee Mellor) Simpson and grew up in Edgewood (Cranston), RI.

Virginia graduated from Cranston High School, Class of 1941 and was a member of the Rhode Island Honor Society.

After high school and during WWII, she worked at a bank in Providence.

Virginia married her high school sweetheart, 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Ricci, USAAC, at Post Chapel, Fort Leavenworth Kansas, on June 23, 1944.

During the 1950’s she and her husband hosted students from numerous European countries who were participating in the Experiment in International Living, Putney VT.

She visited some of these ‘Experimenters’ during her many trips to Europe especially Italy.

It was after her husband’s 1963 Sabbatical to Italy that she began learning Italian becoming an accomplished speaker which she retained throughout her entire life.

She received her bachelor’s degree from UMass/Amherst Class of 1974 and then attended Middlebury College Summer Italian School.

She taught ‘English as a Second Language’ for many years through UMass and had many students from Italy and Japan.

Virginia made an extensive photo study of the Stave Churches of Norway in 1971 and a similar study of the Campanile of Italy in 1978. These photographs were displayed locally.

She was a member of the ‘Thursday Club’ of South Amherst for many years.

She always enjoyed singing and was a member of the Grace Church Choir, Hampshire Choral Society and the Amherst Opera Society. She sang in the chorus at the premier of Randall Thompson’s “Frostiana” at Amherst Regional High School in 1959.

For many years she was a member of the Belchertown State School Friends Associated later known as the Advocacy Network.

She was involved with a landmark lawsuit for the rights of mentally retarded citizens. Virginia was a real and true advocate for the disabled person and his or her family.

Virginia is survived by her three sons: Robert S. Ricci, Amherst MA, James B. Ricci, Haydenville MA, his wife Margaret E. McCarthy, grandson James, partner Sarah Hulton, great-granddaughter Juno, Astana Kazakhstan, grandson Jonathan, wife Sabine Schroeder, Frankfurt Germany, and Thomas D. Ricci, Antelope CA, wife Susan, granddaughters Anne and Emily, grandson David. Her husband Benjamin died in 2006.

Funeral services will be private. A memorial service is planned for the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to The Advocacy Network, PO Box 2071, Amherst, MA 01004 or to VNA Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

THERESA M. ROBERTS

AMHERST, On December 22nd, 2012, Theresa M. Roberts died just shy of her 90th birthday after a short hospitalization. She was a lifelong resident of Amherst, residing in the house that had been home to her grandparents and her parents before her. Theresa was the beloved daughter and only child of Julius and Julia (Joy) Roberts, a loving cousin, and a loyal friend. She was an accomplished quilter, an avid gardener, an adventurous cook, and a tireless knitter who provided hundreds of hats, sweaters, baby sets, and mittens to church fairs and children in need. Theresa worked for many years at Pro Brush in Florence, Massachusetts, before retiring early to care for her ailing mother. She was a lifelong member of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Amherst. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 29^th, at 10:00 a.m. at The Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst with burial following in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

HELEN A. SMOLA

HADLEY, Helen A. (Marhelewicz) Smola, formerly of Three Rivers, died on December 19, at Hadley at Elaine Care andRehab Center in Hadley. Born in Three Rivers on January 18, 1912, she was the daughter of Ludwik and Antonia (Labuz) Marhelewicz. She graduated from SS Peter and Paul Grammar School and Palmer High School, Class of 1930. Helen was a communicant of SS Peter and Paul Parish in Three Rivers and for the last five years of Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Hadley.

Although she would consider herself to be primarily a homemaker, she worked for many years in retail positions. Before her marriage in 1939 she owned and operated Helen’s Variety on Main St. in Three Rivers until the store was destroyed during the flood of 1938. Later, in the 60’s, she clerked at Niles Package Store. She also served as bookkeeper for her husband’s trucking business and for a time in the 50’s was the local correspondent for the Palmer Journal. She served as her husband’s primary care giver for many years during his final illness.

Helen is survived by her son, Dr. Edward Smola and his wife Joan of Hadley, four grandchildren, Att. Susan Smola of Wilmington, Delaware, AnneMarie Rheault of Somers, CT, Dr. Catherine Pienkos and her husband Bob of Oologah, OK and James Smola and his wife Christie of Three Rivers; five great grandchildren: Helena, Jackson and Broderick Rheault and Mary and Rose Pienkos. She is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces and godchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Edward Smola, and her brothers Joseph, Chester and Edward, and sisters Mary, Bernice, Julie and Catherine Marhelewicz and Stella Piechota; and her dear friend, Kasia.

Her family will always be grateful to the caring staff at the Hadley Unit of Hadley at Elaine where she was in residence for the last few years and to the Staff of SolAmor Hospice and also to the Eucharistic Ministers of Most Holy Redeemer Parish who have ministered to her during this time.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 22, at 11:30 a.m. in Most Holy Redeemer Church, Hadley. Burial will follow in SS Peter and Paul Cemetery, Bondsville. A calling hour will precede services from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.  

Donations in her memory may be made to EWTN, 5817 Old Leeds Rd., Irondale, AL 35210, Most Holy Redeemer Parish, PO Box 375, Hadley, MA 01035 or Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

FRANK J. “WICK” WOJTKLEWICZ

AMHERST, Frank J. “Wick” Wojtklewicz, 98, a long time Amherst resident died Wednesday, Dec. 12. Born on March 5, 1914 in Hatfield, he was the son of the late Frank W. and Anna (Merhel) Wojtklewicz. Frank was a graduate of Deerfield Academy, Class of 1935, and of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts, Class of 1937, specializing in horticulture. Most of his career he worked in the Engineering Department at the University until his retirement. An avid outdoorsman, Frank especially enjoyed fishing, trapping and gardening. He was also a respected amateur archaeologist. He was a long time communicant of Most Holy Redeemer Church. Frank was a great friend to many and will always be remembered for his wisdom and willingness to help others. He is survived by his daughters, Joan Wick Pelletier of Albany, NY and Jane Savage of Northampton, his three grandsons, Maurice Pelletier of Toronto, Canada, Emile Pelletier of Ottawa and Michael Savage of Northampton, his brother and sister-in-law, John and Anne Hanieski and his sister-in-law Blanche Wojtklewicz and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Sophie (Hanieski) in 2010, 4 brothers and 2 sisters. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 9:00 a.m. at Most Holy Redeemer Church, Hadley with burial following in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Hadley. Calling hours will be today, Friday, Dec. 14, from 5-7 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

JANET L. BLOOM

AMHERST, Janet Marie Lehan Bloom, 60, of Amherst, died in a car accident on December 7, 2012.  Born July 29, 1952 in Norwood, MA she was the daughter of Catherine T. (McKenna) Lehan and the late Francis V. Lehan. 

Janet graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and received her Masters degree from Smith College.  For over thirty years, she worked at Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech as a beloved teacher, guidance counselor and alumni coordinator.  Among her many accomplishments as an educator, Janet won the Teacher of the Year award in 2004 and established the Poetry Café, which provided children with hearing loss the opportunity to write and recite their poetry as a means of strengthening their listening and speech skills.  Both her colleagues and former students have lauded her caring and exemplary work at Clarke.  More recently, Janet worked as a valued volunteer at the Hospice Shop of the Fisher Home in Amherst.

Janet leaves her two beloved sons, Jason Bloom of Seattle, WA, and Alex Bloom of Amherst.  In addition to her mother, Janet is survived by her brothers, Kevin Lehan of Stoughton, MA, Richard Lehan of Plainville, MA, Thomas Lehan of Wrentham, MA, and her sisters, Diane Wuesthoff of North Attleboro, MA, and Elaine Ormond of Reading, MA.  She was the sister of the late Robert Lehan of Foxboro, MA.  She was also a beloved aunt to 13 nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Janet will be conducted at 10am, on Friday, December 14, 2012, at The Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel in the Newman Center at the University of Massachusetts, 472 North Pleasant Street, Amherst. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Janet’s memory can be made to the Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant Street in Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Elliott K. Brightman

Hadley – Elliott Brightman, 78, crossed over–completing a circle of life on his birthday, December 2, 2012. Elliott was born to Ellis and Louise Brightman in Bronx, NY on December 2, 1934. After completing high school, he served in the Marine Corps and later worked with the US Postal Service until retirement. His wife, Florence (Curtis) Brightman, predeceased him; however, his son, Elliott Brightman, Jr., daughters, Anna Brightman-Bond, and Lori Brightman; with grandchildren, Akilah, Aliya, Aprilyn, Ayodele, and Amaiyah survive Elliott. His sister, Lorraine Walker, and a host of nieces and nephews across generations also survive him. The Brightman family offers warm wishes and heartfelt thanks to those whom graciously extended their kindness and care to Elliott during his stay in Hadley at Elaine. In accordance with Elliott’s wishes, after cremation, the family will schedule a private gathering and ceremony (to be determined at a future date). Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

CONSTANCE JOHNSON

1928 – 2012

HOLYOKE, Constance Golfin Johnson, 84, (nee Laurin) passed away December 3, 2012 at Holyoke Healthcare Center, 282 Cabot Street Holyoke MA after a long illness. She was born November 10, 1928 to Lucien and Florida Laurin in Holyoke, where she was raised. Although she lived in Amherst for most of her adult life, she married in Miami Beach, Florida and lived there in the late 40s. She graduated from Precious Blood Grammar School and Holyoke High School. Part of the first generation of her family to have attended college, she achieved her bachelor’s degree in two years summa cum laude from UMass Amherst, where she went on to obtain her master’s degree and ABD PhD in French literature, while she was teaching high school in Chicopee and later teaching in the Amherst school system, which she loved. From her twenties onward, she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, an international women’s social, cultural and service organization. She played violin from the age of four, and in her later years at all family holidays. Vacations at the ocean, her pet cats, and of course, her grandchildren never failed to elicit her dazzling smile. Always a determined, strong, and independent personality with a lifelong love of learning, she greatly influenced all those around her. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Cecile E. Laurin, her first husband Andrew S. Golfin, Sr., her second husband, Archibald R. Johnson, and her son Mark Andrew Golfin. She is survived by her children Diane Golfin Raheb of Charlestown, NH, and Andrew S. Golfin, Jr. of Canton, CT, his wife Peggy Golfin, as well as her grandchildren: Mark Raheb, Bay Golfin, David Golfin, and Liam Golfin. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 PM on Thursday, December 6, at Douglass Funeral Service,87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA with a remembrance at 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, and in keeping with her lifestyle, memorial contributions may be made to Jones Library, 43 Amity Street, Amherst, MA. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

MARIE B. CLEARY

Amherst—Marie Bernadette (Sally) Cleary, teacher and historian of the American classical tradition, died unexpectedly on December 2.

Born in Boston on April 21, 1931, to Paul and Marie Sally, she grew up in Roslindale and Dedham, and attended parochial and public schools there before graduating from Emmanuel College in 1952.

After college she worked for the U.S. State Department in Rome, where she met and married Dario Frisardi. In 1954 the couple moved to Boston. They had two sons, Thomas and Andrew. The couple divorced in 1970.

Marie began her career as a teacher of Latin in 1960, at first in the Dedham school system and then at Ursuline Academy in Dedham. Eventually she taught at Boston Latin School. She took pride in the fact that she was among the first full-time woman teachers there. In her last year at BLS, 1972–73, the students dedicated the yearbook to their beloved magistra.

She married Vincent Cleary that same year and moved to Amherst. Marie continued her teaching and scholarship in western and central Massachusetts—UMass, Mount Holyoke, and Assumption College. Her work focused on American education and democracy, leading to an Ed.D. degree at UMass. Her biography of Thomas Bulfinch and the Bulfinch family, Myths for the Millions, was published by the German publishing house Peter Lang in 2007.

An interest in poetry and fiction, writing her own and reading the classics, began at an early age. When she was fourteen years old, a short story of hers won a national competition. Marie possessed a photographic memory for poetry, her own and that of authors such as Yeats and Emily Dickinson, two favorites. To hear her recite these poems was always a moving experience for her listeners.       

A deeply spiritual woman, she was active in her various parishes: St. Mary’s in Dedham and St. Bridget’s and the Newman Center in Amherst, St. James and St. Stanislaus in South Deerfield. In Dedham in the 1960s she founded a summer Bible school for children; years later at Newman she helped to found the Women of God group.

In addition to Vincent, her husband of thirty-eight years, she leaves two sons and three grandchildren: Thomas Frisardi of Wellesley and his three children, Raquel Frisardi and her spouse, James Virtel, of Waltham; and Dario and Cecilia Frisardi of Wellesley. Her other son, Andrew Frisardi, and his wife, Daphne Lull, live near Orvieto, Italy.

She was a stepmother and step-grandmother to: Thomas and Julie Cleary, Manchester, N.H.; and their two children, Megan and Andrew; to Sean and Joanne Cleary and their three, Liam, Erin and Tara, of Belchertown; Frances Cleary and Mark Borwick, their twins Spencer and Jacqueline, Bronxville, N.Y.; Brad and Rosemarie Gage, daughter Mackenzie, Belchertown; and Stephen and Roseann Cleary, children Peyton, Sydney and Carter, of Severna Park, Md.

Three siblings survive her: Paul Sally of Chicago; Francis Sally of Dedham; and Elizabeth Massey of Amherst, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Donations in her name may be made to the Survival Center and the Newman Community, both in Amherst.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, December 8, at 10:30 a.m., at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom in The Newman Catholic Center; Fr. Gary Dailey the celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. Calling hours will be the evening before, 6-8 p.m., Friday, December 7, at the Douglass Funeral Service, in Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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

JANET M. FLEURY

AMHERST, Janet M. Fleury passed away peacefully Thursday, November 29 surrounded by her family and friends.

She was born July 6, 1927 in Holyoke, Mass. She was the daughter of the late Helen (Breor) and Chester A. Smith of Hadley.

Janet grew up in Hadley and attended the Hadley Schools. She graduated from Northampton Commercial College. She was employed for many years as a secretary at UMass and at the Amherst Regional High School. She lived in Amherst for many years with her husband of 53 years, Horace (Leo) Fleury.   

She was predeceased by her parents, brother Robert and her son Charles.

Janet is survived by her husband Horace (Leo) Fleury of Amherst, her daughter Lori and son-in-law William Saylor of Hadley, her son Timothy Fleury and daughter-in-law Patricia Halpin of Sunapee, NH and daughter-in-law Maria Fleury of Jacksonville, FL, her grandchildren Connor and Ryan Fleury of Sunapee, NH, Jonathan, Gina and Frank Fleury of Jacksonville, FL, and Ember Russell of Austin, Texas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4th at 10 a.m. in St. Brigid’s Church in Amherst with burial following in Old Hadley Cemetery. Calling hours will be held at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst on Monday, Dec. 3rd from 4 – 7 p.m.

The family wishes to thank Janet’s loving caregivers of many years Bonnie and Stephanie Dutcher and the wonderful staff at The Center for Extended Care at Amherst who cared for her during the final months of her life. Obituary and register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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