Jane Shea Chalmers of Lady Lake, FL formerly of Amherst, 85 passed away peacefully at home on May 8 surrounded by family. She was born on April 11, 1938 and was the daughter of the late John and Winifred (Maher) Shea. Jane spent her career as a Medical Record Administrator. Jane previously worked at the University of Massachusetts Health Services, taught at Holyoke Community College and retired from the VA Hospital in Leeds, MA. Jane adored her children and grandchildren, had a love of reading and enjoyed spending Sunday mornings eating donuts with her friend Paula before moving to Florida. She was an avid golfer and was a member of the Amherst Golf Club where she had served on many committees. Jane leaves behind her husband of 58 years, Tom; her daughters Karen of Amherst, Shawn and husband Rick of Princeton, grandchildren Justin, Jamie, Olivia, Christina and Ava, sister Kathleen Shea Weatherwax and sister in law Barbara Romashko. She is predeceased by sons Brian and Tommy and brother John. Calling hours will be held at Douglass Funeral Home on Wednesday May 31st from 4pm-7pm. A burial will take place at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation https://www.jdrf.org/ The Jack Shea Junior Golf Scholarship Fund c/o Amherst Golf Club 365 S. Pleasant Street Amherst, MA. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Peter P. Kaslauskas, 100, of Summer St in North Amherst, passed away May 13, 2023 with his family by his side. Born in Amherst on April 29, 1923 he was the son of the late John B and Ursula (Nawskon) Kaslauskas. He recently enjoyed celebrating his 100th birthday with family and friends in the house in which he lived for 85 years. He eagerly shared many stories of growing up in Amherst including cutting ice on Puffer’s Pond for iceboxes, helping his father deliver milk by horse and wagon and riding the trolley to nearby towns. Peter attended Amherst High School and then worked at Amherst College for over 40 years as a custodian and painter and Puffer Construction as a dedicated school bus driver. Pete enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and watching his favorite sports teams. Pete made a great impact on everyone he met. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend who will forever be missed and loved. He will continue to inspire all that knew him. His wife Veronica (Descarage) predeceased him in 2009. He leaves his daughter Susan Geissler and son-in-law Eric of Granby, MA and grandchildren Kevin of Ludlow and Kimberly of Shutesbury. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will take place at St Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley on Thursday, May 18 at 10 AM. Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

A longtime lover of the arts and talented percussionist, Killian J. Venman, died suddenly on Friday, May 12, 2023. Born in Northampton, MA on February 28, 1995, he grew up in Western Massachusetts, attending several local public and private schools. Killian graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Plymouth State University in May 2018, and then obtained a Master of Music degree from New York University in May 2020. While in the city, Killian established long-term working relationships with a number of illustrious musicians, such as the Brooklyn Ballet, for which he served as its First Chair Percussionist.

In his most recent professional life, Killian was a well-loved music teacher at The Well School in Peterborough, NH. As a teacher, Killian fostered the love of learning, curiosity, experimentation, and, of course, music. Per his private lesson parent policy agreement, he states, “Having fun and learning about music are the number one priorities of these private lessons!”

In his own words, “I grew up in a white two-story farmhouse in western Massachusetts. Creaky hardwood floors, column radiators, a chipped and worn cabinet piano, a porcelain claw footed tub in the bathroom, an unfinished dirt floor basement, a swing hanging from the maple tree, and a rambling stream. This was my paradise until age 9, when my parents divorced. Since then, I have tried to recreate the feelings of warmth, comfort, simplicity, and natural beauty that I felt so deeply growing up. I would like to bring this feeling of tranquil country bliss to as many experimental art loving New Englanders as possible.”

Killian produced a number of multi-media works, including short films about each of his well-known and passed grandparents, Bill, and Sally Venman, from Amherst, MA. He also produced the Valley Light Opera’s 45^th Anniversary film, titled, “If You Want to Know Who We Are: Or VLO Then and Now”, which is available online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isiD_OX9628. All of Killian’s work may be found on his website, which continues to be hosted, at www.killianvenman.com. 

Killian leaves behind loving parents, Jennifer Higgins of Southampton, MA and Peter Venman of Hadley, MA, and a slew of family and friends forever bereft.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of Wildwood Cemetery, Pollinator Garden Project, 70 Strong Street, Amherst MA 01002; or Amherst Friends of the Performing Arts at www.amherstfpa.org.  

Calling hours with be held from 5-7 PM on Thursday, May 18 at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst, MA. A graveside service will be held at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst, MA beginning at 10 AM on Friday, May 19, 2023. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

Braulia Vazquez Cabán, 91, of Amherst, MA, passed away on April 20th, 2023, of natural causes.
Braulia was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico on August 7^th, 1931. She graduated from high school in Manhattan, NY and and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Manhattan’s Hunter College.
Braulia was married to Juan Pedro Cabán on January 29^th, 1956; they were married for 67 years. She worked as the office manager for WFCR Public Radio for over 10 years. Braulia enjoyed cooking, entertaining, reading, and listening to music. She was also actively involved with the Baha’i Faith. The Cabán home, in Amherst, served as the center for Baha’i gatherings for decades.
Braulia is survived by her spouse Juan, her children, John and Anne, her grandchildren Kai and Vincent, numerous nieces and nephews and other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her closest sister Ligia Ruiz, as well as numerous other siblings.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Braulia’s name may be given to New England Public Media by visiting www.nepm.org/memorial

The Cabán family wishes to thank Linda Manor Assisted Living, Cooley Dickenson VNA and Hospice, Douglass Funeral Services and Atkins Farms Flower Shop for their care and assistance.

An intimate funeral service was held for her on April 22^nd, at Wildwood Cemetery, in Amherst, MA

 

AMHERST, MA: Houghton Ingram, 85, passed away May 3rd, 2023 with family by his side. He was born on December 10th, 1937. He was the son of late Marshall and Vera (Buchanan) IngramHoughton was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Family was was very important to him. He was extremely proud of his three sons and everything they have accomplished. In his free time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, cornhole, horseshoes, golfing, playing cards, coaching little league baseball, and going to tag sales with his grandchildren.

Houghton took pride in everything he did; including his jobs working at the Lord Jeffery Inn assisting Robert Frost, running Flavortowne coffee shop alongside his wife and sons, working as a maintainer at Umass where all of the students and staff loved him, and working as a runner at the Biffway Auctions. He was a respected member of the community that was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. No matter where Houghton went he would always run into at least one person he knew, and he was always ready to tell a story.

Houghton leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Judith; his sons Jeffery (Sherry), Scott, John (Kimberly); his grandchildren Ryan, Kelly, William, Elizabeth, Marshall, and Nolan; and his great grandchildren Luke, Hannah, Nova, and Harper. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew

Calling hours will be held at the Douglass Funeral Home on Thursday, May 11th, from 4pm-7pm. Followed by a Brief Service at 7pm.

A burial will take place at the connivence of the family.

 

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to be sent to:

* Toys for Tots  www.toysfortots.org/donate

* The Alzheimer’s Association  www.alz.org/get-involved-now

 * The Dakin Humane Society   www.dakinhumane.org

 * Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice.  www.cooleydickinson.org/giving

 

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com

AMHERST, MA: Keir Moon, known far and wide as “Mr. Moon” or simply “Moon,” and to so many beloved young people as “Grampa Moon,” died on April 30, 2023 after a long illness.

A lifelong entrepreneur, Moon early on decided a traditional career path was not for him.  He once drove a taxi cab in Boston, but what else he did during the 70’s remains a bit of a mystery. He started the Hi-Fi Exchange Stereo store in 1979 in downtown Northampton. He was a pioneer of computer gaming; his Moonbeam Software games for the TI-99/A home computer still have a following. He ran Adirondack Music stereo store in the old carriage shops, and worked maintenance for local Amherst apartment complexes while raising his daughters in Williamsburg, MA before returning to Amherst in 1993. He  opened another small business in the early 90’s, but really found his calling in the avenue of online sales which married well with his lifelong love of computers and provided an outlet for writing custom software programs and databases.

A grandchild of Winnifred Shumway of South Amherst, Moon took up the family legacy of contributing to the community. He became a fixture at the Amherst Transfer Station where he volunteered religiously, and from 2008 attended nearly every Amherst youth Football game from SAFL Pee Wees through high school varsity, where he could be easily spotted in a funny hat and a neon shirt, running the chain gang, setting up the field, and helping anyone who needed it. 

He will be greatly missed by his sisters, nieces and nephews, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the Amherst community he served for decades. He will be remembered for his often gruff exterior, his stubbornness, and more than anything his boundlessly generous nature.

Please join us at Wildwood Cemetery, at 70 Strong St, Amherst on Friday, May 5, at 12:00PM for a GRAVESIDE SERVICE , where he will be interred beside his granddaughter in a green burial, in accordance with his wishes.

Mr. Moon was not known for his formality so we invite you to dress however you choose to honor your memories of him, whether you wear the neon he so loved, rep the ‘Canes, or wear neutral tones to reflect his natural return to the earth.

There will be mourning bands available.

Memorial conributions can be made to the Amherst Youth Football Program, P.O. BOX 155, 01004-0155.

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com 

AMHERST, MA: Keir Moon, known far and wide as “Mr. Moon” or simply “Moon,” and to so many beloved young people as “Grampa Moon,” died on April 30, 2023 after a long illness.

A lifelong entrepreneur, Moon early on decided a traditional career path was not for him.  He once drove a taxi cab in Boston, but what else he did during the 70’s remains a bit of a mystery. He started the Hi-Fi Exchange Stereo store in 1979 in downtown Northampton. He was a pioneer of computer gaming; his Moonbeam Software games for the TI-99/A home computer still have a following. He ran Adirondack Music stereo store in the old carriage shops, and worked maintenance for local Amherst apartment complexes while raising his daughters in Williamsburg, MA before returning to Amherst in 1993. He  opened another small business in the early 90’s, but really found his calling in the avenue of online sales which married well with his lifelong love of computers and provided an outlet for writing custom software programs and databases.

A grandchild of Winnifred Shumway of South Amherst, Moon took up the family legacy of contributing to the community. He became a fixture at the Amherst Transfer Station where he volunteered religiously, and from 2008 attended nearly every Amherst youth Football game from SAFL Pee Wees through high school varsity, where he could be easily spotted in a funny hat and a neon shirt, running the chain gang, setting up the field, and helping anyone who needed it. 

He will be greatly missed by his sisters, nieces and nephews, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the Amherst community he served for decades. He will be remembered for his often gruff exterior, his stubbornness, and more than anything his boundlessly generous nature.

Please join us at Wildwood Cemetery, at 70 Strong St, Amherst on Friday, May 5, at 12:00PM for a GRAVESIDE SERVICE , where he will be interred beside his granddaughter in a green burial, in accordance with his wishes.

Mr. Moon was not known for his formality so we invite you to dress however you choose to honor your memories of him, whether you wear the neon he so loved, rep the ‘Canes, or wear neutral tones to reflect his natural return to the earth.

There will be mourning bands available.

Memorial conributions can be made to the Amherst Youth Football Program or a charity of your choice.

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com 

AMHERST, MA: Keir Moon, known far and wide as “Mr. Moon” or simply “Moon,” and to so many beloved young people as “Grampa Moon,” died on April 30, 2023 after a long illness.

A lifelong entrepreneur, Moon early on decided a traditional career path was not for him.  He once drove a taxi cab in Boston, but what else he did during the 70’s remains a bit of a mystery. He started the Hi-Fi Exchange Stereo store in 1979 in downtown Northampton. He was a pioneer of computer gaming; his Moonbeam Software games for the TI-99/A home computer still have a following. He ran Adirondack Music stereo store in the old carriage shops, and worked maintenance for local Amherst apartment complexes while raising his daughters in Williamsburg, MA before returning to Amherst in 1993. He  opened another small business in the early 90’s, but really found his calling in the avenue of online sales which married well with his lifelong love of computers and provided an outlet for writing custom software programs and databases.

A grandchild of Winnifred Shumway of South Amherst, Moon took up the family legacy of contributing to the community. He became a fixture at the Amherst Transfer Station where he volunteered religiously, and from 2008 attended nearly every Amherst youth Football game from SAFL Pee Wees through high school varsity, where he could be easily spotted in a funny hat and a neon shirt, running the chain gang, setting up the field, and helping anyone who needed it. 

He will be greatly missed by his sisters, nieces and nephews, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the Amherst community he served for decades. He will be remembered for his often gruff exterior, his stubbornness, and more than anything his boundlessly generous nature.

Please join us at Wildwood Cemetery, at 70 Strong St, Amherst on Friday, May 5, at 12:00PM for a GRAVESIDE SERVICE , where he will be interred beside his granddaughter in a green burial, in accordance with his wishes.

Mr. Moon was not known for his formality so we invite you to dress however you choose to honor your memories of him, whether you wear the neon he so loved, rep the ‘Canes, or wear neutral tones to reflect his natural return to the earth.

There will be mourning bands available.

Memorial conributions can be made to the Amherst Youth Football Program or a charity of your choice.

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com 

MaryJane (Knightly) Drake of Amherst passed away on April 16 at Baystate Hospital with her loving family at her side. MaryJane was 87 born on Sept. 4, 1935.  She was the daughter of Walter R and Mary M. (Kuzmeski) Knightly. She was a lifelong resident of Amherst having graduated from Amherst High.

M.J. as she was known to many had a short career as a telephone operator, then went on to becoming a domestic engineer after she married her high school sweetheart Robert (Bob) Drake, they had been married for 65 loving years at the time of Bobs death in Feb. 2021. Together they had and raised four children.  Besides taking pride in raising her children and tending to their home M.J. looked forward to hosting and decorating for all the holidays, especially Easter, and Christmas. Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and family summer birthdays were always celebrated in the backyard by the pool with a BBQ picnic.

Some of her hobbies were in the warm seasons starting with flower gardening then on to strawberry picking(many quarts) for making several batches of her strawberry jam for which she was sure family and friends got to enjoy. For the Christmas holiday, it was the numerous batches of fudge she so enjoyed making to box up and hand out to family and friends. Another favorite pastime was reading and trading books with friends.

MaryJane loved going to the beach especially Wells/Moody Maine, several family trips to St. Thomas V.I. were taken in the past, along with Hawaii and Florida. Her backyard pool was her favorite summer destination. She so looked forward to shopping for clothes and holiday decor keeping up with the latest styles and trends.

MaryJane was predeceased by her parents Walter and Mary, her three brothers Walter Jr.(Bunny), Tom,and Jim Knightly, and her husband Bob, along with many of her close friends.
Surviving her is her four children Ken, Cindy (Roland), Deb(Ed), and Scott with whom she lived with. MaryJane had seven grandchildren, Tammy(Christopher) Kelly(Matt), Greg, Linsey (Matt), Ally, Ken, and Mikayla  (Joel), and five great grands Ryan, Nic, Miranda, Adeline and Nathan, that brought her such joy and she so embraced every moment she had with them, also she was looking forward to her sixth great to be born soon.

At the request and wishes from MaryJane there will be no calling hours or funeral services.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Donations can be made in MaryJane’s memory to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

Please feel free to visit the memorial guest book at www.Douglassfuneral.com

 

Joyce M. Weigel died April 21, 2023 in Hadley, MA.  She was born in Forest Glen, Maryland in 1929 and was active in numerous organizations throughout her youth.  She was a past Queen of Job’s Daughters, a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and a treasurer of her class at American University where she graduated with a B.A. in psychology.  Joy married Charlie who predeceased her in 1996; they had two children, Cynthia and Miles, and four grandchildren.

Joy loved to travel with Charlie and later with each of her grandchildren (Michael, Alicia, Max and Sarah), visiting over 35 countries.  She was active in her church, serving as an Elder in the Kennett Square, PA Presbyterian church and, together with Charlie, as a leader of the Senior Youth fellowship for four years.  Joy was known for Ikebana flower arranging, making beautiful, unique arrangements for the Westminster Presbyterian church for a number of years.  She loved music, theater, bridge, gourmet cooking and being with family and friends.

Joy was a volunteer for her local Hospital Auxiliary, offering comfort and information.  She was one of the founders of Encore, a resale shop for the Chester County Hospital, where she was its first manager for eight plus years.  Later she helped start and was chairman for over twenty years of the Westminster Church’s Thrift Shop.    She was a Lifelong Learner, enjoying courses at the University of Delaware and always willing to try something new even into her nineties when she participated in a choir and a play. 

We all will miss her joyful spirit, confidence and determination.  She is survived by her children and their spouses, Karl and Char, her grandchildren and Sarah’s spouse, Robert, nieces and their families. 

Services will be held for immediate family and friends. 

Donations may be made to the Center Church of South Hadley, One Church Street, South Hadley, MA 01075 or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036.